Selected variables related to the successful implementation of a new primary music curriculum
Date
1981
Authors
Reid, Susan Rosemary
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Abstract
Throughout the past decade educators have become increasingly concerned with the failure of many curriculum innovations to result in efficient and complete adoption within the schools. Recent studies have provided some general models for more effective implementation of curricula, but specific information at the school district and school levels is needed to assist local curriculum developers in the process of change.
The purpose of this study is to examine the participation of elementary schools in one school district in the process of implementing a new music curriculum mandated for use in the primary grades.
The thirteen elementary schools were measured in terms of their active participation in organized district implementation activities. This measure, called the SPI (School Participation Index), was examined in its relationship to four factors considered significant in the implementation process: the principal's support of the innovation, the teachers' perception of the support, the implementation strategies used within each school, and the school 'climate' for a subject specialty change.
Two interview schedules were developed for use in the study and were administered to all thirteen principals and to the forty-five teachers of grades one and two in the district.
It was found that the degree of principal support was related to the amount of participation by teachers in the organized district implementation activities. The 'high' support principals engaged in a wider variety and a greater number of implementation strategies and were perceived as more highly supportive of the new curriculum endeavour than the 'low' support principals. The school's and community's total music environment also tends to support an innovation in music instruction and was found to be significantly related to the participation effort by school staff involved in implementation.
The difficulty of encouraging change that has been mandated across a school district is formidable for all those involved. The four factors explored in this study must be examined within all schools if a curriculum innovation is to be assured a fair trial period and adoption in due course.