ERIC Number: EJ1255236
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-May
Pages: 48
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1545-4517
EISSN: N/A
Tractate on Critical Theory and Praxis: Implications for Professionalizing Music Education
Regelski, Thomas A.
Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education, v19 n1 p6-53 May 2020
The Tractate was written following the first meeting of leading music education scholars in Buffalo. It was not, however intended as a scholarly essay. Rather, it was a declaration of assorted, numerous issues the next few meetings of founding MayDay Group members could engage with in organizing efforts at creating an organization predicated on critical communication about changing the status quo of the time. It is thus a historical document that, at the time of its writing, was an unpolished voice of one young (50- ish) thinker. It has since slept largely unremarked in the MayDay Group website pages until noticed by Vince Bates. Its references to Critical Theory were posed as bases for the MayDay Group's critical agenda. Some readers might detect its spirit in the subsequent MDG ethos of "action for change," with "action" translated as "praxis." Others might prefer to note a straying from the path implored by this document. Leaders attending to the present and future directions of the Group might take new resolve from it. The document was written with a critique in mind of mid-1990s music education. Sadly, much remains to be done. Perhaps a new foundational document (or several) for the next 30 years is in order to help organize future MayDay efforts of "action for change." Until its recent reemergence I hadn't known how much the Tractate foretold of my forthcoming new book on curriculum philosophy and theory, which takes up foundational issues first raised in this Tractate. I hope its current and future relevance are clear, even when it wanders more than a little.
Descriptors: Music Education, Music Teachers, Educational Change, Educational History, Critical Theory, Philosophy, Freedom, Change Agents, Teacher Role, Teaching Methods, Praxis, Ideology, Curriculum, Reflective Teaching, Theory Practice Relationship
MayDay Group. Brandon University School of Music, 270 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 6A9, Canada. Tel: 204-571-8990; Fax: 204-727-7318; Web site: http://act.maydaygroup.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A