Page 13 - Studio International - May 1971

numbers, or again that there is a call for art and available to as many people as possible' courses submitted for approval within Group B'.
design courses at foundation level for their own (Foreword); `... the spectrum of the population The phrase 'in this area' relates to the Three-
sake (although this last assumes that at the end for whom some form of education is available Dimensional Design, even so by imagining two
of their time students apply for a Diploma place (should) be broadened rather than narrowed' commas the sentence can be read to mean all 3D
for the sake of appearances). Clearly it is not good (para 126); 'Whatever machinery is adopted for courses will become four-year Group B courses:
enough simply to cut the total intake into the art the government and administration of a college `It seems likely that design courses in this area,
and design education, thus denying any form of it should be one that promotes the full which have a professional or industrial
post-school education to those who currently at development of the individual as the central orientation, will largely give way, etc etc.' The
least get a year on a foundation course. The purpose of education ... the college as a whole sense and the grammar of the sentence might
strategy should be to provide an alternative to should reflect this value' (para 157). have been improved if it had been written: 'It
foundation courses before curbing their rate of How might these ideals be pursued within the seems likely that those design courses in this area
expansion. Further, the purpose of a foundation system described in the report ? which have a professional or industrial
course is not confined to the preparation of First, the range of courses prepared is orientation, etc etc.'
students for the DipAD, although the report extensive. The report recommends that all My own feeling is that there should be only a
presents this as its primary function. Some advanced courses should come within the few B courses but that largely rests with the
students will go directly into employment from DipAD; this is an attempt to get rid of all insidious colleges because it is they, not the NCDAD, who
a foundation course, others will go into some distinctions between one kind of advanced decide what courses to submit for recognition.
other form of education. It is important to course and another. In order to widen the range Another fear is that the overall number of
retain this aspect of foundation courses for the of opportunities open to students within the Diploma places will be limited to the number of
following reasons. There is no advantage in DipAD system (para I17) a greater flexibility of people who may expect to find employment as
having a two-stage selection guidance system approach is recommended (para 23). Two professional designers, artists or teachers. Such
into the DipAD if getting through the first stage proposals are made to give this increased a policy would confine art and design to a
almost certainly leads to a way through the flexibility: 1) Courses need not be confined to technical background of the educational system.
second, or if there is no suitable alternative to the four areas (Fine Art, Graphics, Three- It would show a short-sighted view of education
DipAD within reach of those at the second Dimensional Design, Fashion and Textiles) and a closed-shop attitude to design. Of course
stage. If foundation courses are 'to give all proposed in the first Coldstream report (paras the report recommends nothing of the kind. It
students, whatever the nature of their previous 24, 27, and 3o); 2) Courses may be run as does suggest that vocational and professional
education, an equal opportunity to develop their foundation year plus a three-year course, or as a courses should be related to employment
talents and discover their interests' (para 64), straight four-year course (para 23). There are opportunities (para 121) although not too
then the intake must include some people whose already developments away from strict strictly, but says that the aim should be to
previous education has been weak generally or regard for the four areas. Recently colleges have provide places for all applicants likely to benefit
in particular in art and design. The number of been invited to comment on the desirability of a from a high level course and that this number
these who subsequently choose some future course which would combine studies in design will exceed the number of students on
other than the DipAD may be high. The and education, and some polytechnics are professional courses (para 161). Paragraphs 164
question is : What proportion of foundation proposing to develop courses which combine and 165 enlarge on the need for new kinds of
course students should there be, over and above design with subjects normally in the preview of courses and point to the contribution the art
those being prepared for DipAD ? the Council of National Academic Awards. The colleges could make to a general education at an
Alongside the DipAD the technician courses, proposal to introduce four-year courses has met advanced level. One of the most important
and more particularly the general courses, should with a deal of criticism, but much of it at the sentences reads 'We would... expect to see
provide opportunities for people currently banal level of suggesting that reference to them within the DipAD system courses concerned
inappropriately served by foundation courses. as A and B courses indicates a status difference. with design analysis and synthesis applied to a
Local Authorities have the freedom to run any If the DipAD is to provide a comprehensive range of systems and artifacts.' (My italics). I
additional courses. It is in these three areas that range of higher education courses it must contain believe that if the art colleges are going to thrive
expansion must take place if art colleges are not some courses geared to particular professions in and expand to help meet the demand for
to be as middle class as the universities are and the art and design field. People involved in education, then they must broaden their area of
the polytechnics are doomed to become. running such courses argue that four years of interest beyond the traditional subjects of
co-ordinated study is a necessity. Many critics design. One important way of doing this is to
GREATER EQUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL have argued that the intention of the report is develop their study of the process rather than
OPPORTUNITY that all design courses shall become four years, concentrating simply on the products of design.
Of course it is not simply a question of leaving only fine-art courses as they are now. I am convinced that design, in this sense, is basic
providing alternative courses at sub-diploma Such an interpretation would be plain silly. It education leading to greater effectiveness in
level for the working classes, but rather it is one presupposes a desire to split art from design, coping with everyday problems, and to a fuller
of providing varied and suitable ways into the which is contrary to the recommendation to enjoyment of our culture. This widening of
system, a comprehensive choice within the break down the barriers between the areas. It horizons will allow art and design to make an
system, and a variety of ways of leaving it. That, would compromise the principle of the important contribution to general education at
no less, is our old friend the network system in foundation year giving people a chance to all levels.
its proper sense, and not confused with cafeteria- choose their field of interest. It would mean an The idea then is that within the DipAD a
style help-yourself courses with which it has over-production of specialized professional range of professional, general and academic
been identified in much of the talk about art designers. The reason of this misinterpretation courses might be developed, having in common
education since the glorious summer of 1968. is quite plain. There is an ambiguous sentence in that they imply a high level of attainment. The
The joint committee report does make an the report which has allowed those expecting the report recommends two other forms of provision
attempt to regard art and design education as a worst to read the worst into it. to make up the main part of the system:
whole, and the system that it recommends could In paragraph 26 under the heading of Three- technician and general courses. Technician
provide a foundation upon which its ideals Dimensional Design the following sentence courses are for people of sixteen or seventeen
might eventually be realized. appears; 'It seems likely that design courses in who want to be trained for a variety of technical
These principles appear in the report: this area which have a professional or industrial jobs which currently exist. This suggestion has
`Further education after leaving school should be orientation will largely give way to remodelled occasioned a certain furore, it being suggested

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