Choosing Art?

Last Friday, a pupil came to talk to me after school and asked me some serious questions about Art after watching Sir Ken Robinson's famous speech on Schools Killing Creativity. She is apparently very upset as half way through our conversation, she started weeping. She is passionate about Art and is considering her post secondary education options in Art-related fields. The reason why she was upset is because nearly all her friends thought that it is a foolish idea to pursue a career in the Arts, and that the subject should at best be considered as a past time, like some sort of hobby that one can possibly dabble in if he has some idle time. What further saddened her was that similar sentiments was also supported by a teacher when the topic was broached. She cried because she really cares. I was not let in on who this colleague is, as I would really like to have a conversation with him or her about this.

This is preposterous. It is first annoying and then disappointing.

It is one thing to express such opinion to one's friends. It is another thing altogether to express such insensitive remarks to a class of young minds who still do not have the maturity to consider the variance of life. They are easily swept by conventions and are fast to adhere to these societal norms. Teachers cannot be so insensitive.

Such conventions that the Arts are unimportant are prevalent in most societies, even in those where the Aesthetics culture are well developed. It is therefore very important for the teachers teaching the Arts to be keep pupils motivated with the examples of successes out there, as most often than not, their friends and parents will definitely tell them otherwise. That most artists only make money when they are dead. What happened to all the good examples? The kind of enriching lives they lived and how much they have enjoyed their fulfilling lives doing what they love to do. Concerned about not making enough money? What about the examples of so many creative content makers at the top of their games who became multi-millionaires?

Our pupils need to know of such successes. They need their heroes.

I sincerely hope that for those pupils who already know that their lives are inextricably linked to the Arts have the courage to pursue what is important to them. I believe that schools do kill creativity, and that it is therefore even more important that we are always mindful to encourage what is left.