Learned helplessness in inclusive music classrooms: voices of Hong Kong primary schools music teachers

Abstract

In Hong Kong, inclusive education is concerned with educating all students, including those who are categorised as having special educational needs (SEN). This qualitative study reports three challenges faced by primary schools music teachers required to implement inclusive education. The first two challenges echo those reported internationally – the lack of subject-specific pre- and in-service SEN training and insufficient school-based SEN support for music teachers. The third challenge is the key role of a societal mindset that, by valuing SEN interventions against other educational values, justifies discriminatory training and resourcing. It is against this mindset that these teachers argue and that explains why inclusive education in Hong Kong's primary music classrooms becomes a pathway for both SEN students and their teachers to learned helplessness.

Keywords:

• SEN music classroom
• inclusive education
• music teachers
• Hong Kong

Notes on contributors

Marina Wai-yee Wong is an associate professor at the Department of Education Studies of the Hong Kong Baptist University. She obtained Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia in Canada. She is currently involved in teacher education courses with special focus on music teacher education. Her research interests include assessment in arts education, curriculum studies, inclusive music education and music teacher education.

Maria Pik-yuk Chik is an associate professor at the Department of Education Studies of the Hong Kong Baptist University. She obtained Ph.D. at the Monash University in Australia. She is currently teaching teacher education courses and psychology courses. Her research interests include humour, play and psychological well-being, counselling and school guidance, special education and teacher education.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the General Research Fund of the Research Grants Council, Hong Kong SAR [grant number HKBU248911].