Gin’s plea for a broad curriculum

Gin Wigmore is part-way through an education degree. She tells Amanda Hanan about her concerns for art-inclined students in the current climate.

Gin Wigmore's early school days can only be described as idyllic and very kiwi. The gifted singer/songwriter fondly remembers waking up early to make her own Marmite sandwiches then walking to Devonport Primary on the old sheep track around Mount Victoria.
“We were taught independence at a very young age!”
Her favourite memories are of climbing trees and the Moro bar her mum bought her after the high jump and running races at athletics day.
Back then, Gin was known as Virginia Wigmore. Her favourite teacher was the “young, cool, fun” Mrs Burns. “She was the best – a very loving to each and every child in the class. I never ever wanted to disappoint Mrs Burns. She taught me that learning can be fun and light-hearted.”
Gin didn't get maths at all but loved Māori studies. “It was really interactive: making poi and newspaper batons to make music and dance and discover rhythm. It was a really great sense of achievement.”
More hands-on
Gin thinks teachers should make more time for practical playing. “The fun part of music is playing and teachers and schools need to embrace that more.” Gin herself never made the school choir or any school shows. She thinks the school might have thought these were just another way for her to get out of maths and English.
Nevertheless, Gin has always been drawn to teaching and five years ago started, but didn't finish, her teaching degree. She even did her first practicum back at Devonport Primary. “It was quite strange being in the staffroom and talking as an adult to the principal and other teachers who had taught me.”
The dream of being a primary school teacher was interrupted when Gin’s music career took off. Her latest album, Gravel and Wine, released in November, quickly reached number one in the NZ top 40. It follows her hugely successful début album Holy Smoke, which went platinum five times. Her voice, which critics call both startling and soulful, earned her four Tuis at the 2010 New Zealand Music Awards.
Despite her success or maybe because of it, Gin still has plans to be a teacher and she thinks she'd make a pretty good one because she adores kids. Next year she's considering distance learning for her Bachelor of Education.
Broad and well-rounded
Gin hopes that students who are more art inclined, like her, don't miss out in the current schooling system. “A curriculum should be broad and well rounded otherwise students will hate learning.
“Teachers who were bossy and mean never got any respect from students and then it's just an uphill battle for everyone. I think if I ever become a teacher I will take that on board with how I interact with my students, as you have to get them onside.”
She says there are too many rules between teacher and students – and worries that men are too scared to become teachers in the fear something innocent may be misinterpreted. She remembers getting tons of hugs from teachers. And other things too – “marks would all be called out in class. These kinds of things are seen as a no-no now; it's extremely sad we are so protective about such innocent matters.”
At primary school Gin learned that she wanted the freedom to carve out her own path, in her own way and in her own time. “I never liked feeling restricted to wearing the same thing as everyone else, or to face a set formula on whether you pass something or not.”
Who knows, when touring and recording allow, Virginia who became Gin, may become Miss Wigmore and take her ideas and philosophies to her own students at a classroom near you.

Win one of three CD copies of Gin’s new album, Gravel and Wine. Enter the competition by emailing educationaotearoa@nzei.org.nz, with Gin Wigmore in the subject line.
(Same terms and conditions as giveaways in the summer issue of EA)