An investigation of the impact of the University of British Columbia's foreign language requirement on enrolment in secondary art and band courses
Date
1984
Authors
McManus, Richard Gilbert Frederick
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Abstract
Since 1979, the British Columbia Music Educators Association has stated in its journals and newsletters, concern about the declining number of secondary students electing to enrol in music courses. It was thought that one source of the decline was the number of courses required for admission to the University of B. C. and other postsecondary school institutions.
The U. B. C. Senate Admissions Committee has received many letters and briefs from the B.C. M.E.A., the B.C. Teachers' Federation and its Professional Specialist Associations protesting the recent inclusion of a foreign language entrance requirement. The protests were based on the assumption that an increase in the number of courses required for admission to U. B. C. would have a negative impact on music programs as well as other subjects not recognized by the University for admission purposes. The Senate Committee noted that the letters and briefs did not include hard facts to support these assumptions.
In response to the Senate Committee's observations this investigation was designed to determine statistically if an association exists between University prerequisites and secondary school course selection and if this relationship has a significant impact on music programs.
The investigation did reveal a strong association between the University of B. C.'s foreign language requirement and enrolment in secondary school French and Art courses. Enrolment in secondary school music programs did not seem to be affected by the University's admission policy or by the changes in graduation requirements by the provincial government's Ministry of Education.
The results of the investigation are important because they provide insight into the relationship between secondary school curriculum organization, secondary school programming and entrance requirements to B.C. universities. The results also suggest that music educators should investigate other possible sources of the current decline in enrolment in music courses.