The educational theory of a travelling bard-ABC

Street Stories - The Songman 29 June 2005

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Chris Aitken is a travelling bard who makes you sing him songs. His educational theory is that creativity comes first, then other skills such as literacy and numeracy will naturally follow. Over the years Chris Aitken has collected around 300 songs written by Australian school children. He is hoping one day to release a songbook.

The songs come from some of Australia's most remote primary schools. Everywhere he goes Chris encourages people to write their own music. He's had some astounding results, particularly with indigenous children, who in the area of South-Eastern Victoria, where this program was made, struggle to finish school. Song writing, suggests Chris, may be one way to reverse the trend. The educational theory of a travelling bard