Art buoy
I know so many people who have a problem with the present education system. Yet we put our kids through this education system or make them adhere to it at some level.
We all believe, (at some level or the other)that, " those who can....'do' and those who can't....'teach'."
And yet we leave our most precious belongings with those very people who 'can't' for upto 8 hours a day.
I became a part of the education system because I...ahem...really 'couldn't'. I couldn't do it all...take care of a child, run a business (design, produce,manage, sell), put food on the table 3 times a day (including serve hot phulkas to our (not so occasional) guests from homeland who don't know how to eat otherwise).
I was failing miserably physically, mentally and also maybe financially. This was the time when the school, that my son was about to join, offered me a job to come and teach carpentry and sculpture. The decision was a no brainer. I said, 'yes!'. I saw it as an opportunity to make a difference. As a creative entrepreneur I had faced a huge chasm. The chasm between the world's understanding of material, craftsmanship, art, design, quality and mine. And then the wide gap between what I wished to achieve and what I could achieve in all these areas. I thought by being a part of the education system I could make a difference by building awareness about materials, processes, design and aesthetics.
But, let me be honest, the deal clincher for me for taking that job was that the school provided 3 free meals, I got paid vacations and 2 hours of commute everyday where I did not have to drive (I love sleeping in moving vehicles). I was shortchanged on all these three points, but that is a different story.
Being a school teacher was very different from anything I had imagined. I ended up saying lots of things that I never thought I ever would. "please put all the insects in this plastic bag before entering the bus" , "you have to eat it, not like it", "Whose pants are these?". I also heard a lot of strange things,
We all believe, (at some level or the other)that, " those who can....'do' and those who can't....'teach'."
And yet we leave our most precious belongings with those very people who 'can't' for upto 8 hours a day.
I became a part of the education system because I...ahem...really 'couldn't'. I couldn't do it all...take care of a child, run a business (design, produce,manage, sell), put food on the table 3 times a day (including serve hot phulkas to our (not so occasional) guests from homeland who don't know how to eat otherwise).
I was failing miserably physically, mentally and also maybe financially. This was the time when the school, that my son was about to join, offered me a job to come and teach carpentry and sculpture. The decision was a no brainer. I said, 'yes!'. I saw it as an opportunity to make a difference. As a creative entrepreneur I had faced a huge chasm. The chasm between the world's understanding of material, craftsmanship, art, design, quality and mine. And then the wide gap between what I wished to achieve and what I could achieve in all these areas. I thought by being a part of the education system I could make a difference by building awareness about materials, processes, design and aesthetics.
But, let me be honest, the deal clincher for me for taking that job was that the school provided 3 free meals, I got paid vacations and 2 hours of commute everyday where I did not have to drive (I love sleeping in moving vehicles). I was shortchanged on all these three points, but that is a different story.
Being a school teacher was very different from anything I had imagined. I ended up saying lots of things that I never thought I ever would. "please put all the insects in this plastic bag before entering the bus" , "you have to eat it, not like it", "Whose pants are these?". I also heard a lot of strange things,
"we slip and fall because the earth is round": said an 8 yr old to me.
" Innocence is when you don't know right from wrong" ..the wise words of a 16 yr old."
"Aunty don't stay a teacher for a long time or you will grow a beard and moustache, see all the old teachers" ...i think that was the sweetest advice my 17yr old student could have given me!!!
Most importantly, when I started interacting with children, I started understanding the inception of a thought process. With kids the thought process was often quite transparent. I could actually see how the mind perceives materials and how our eyes, hands, ears send different messages to the brain based on which faculty or sense we hone more. I realised how each mind is wired so differently that in reality nothing can ever be taught, it can only be learnt...learnt by each in his or her own unique way.
I learnt that ignorance is a wonderful and powerful tool which one must never let go of. It is vast and abundant and empowering. It is a special privilege. I started cherishing the unknown in my mind thanks to those 5 and 10 year olds. I realised that the unknown was a spring board to facilitate a jump.
Unfortunately, I also realised that the process of education is, in a strange way, going to make a child lose those spring boards.
I learnt a lot, I grew. I realised that interacting with kids and being a teacher is not a benevolent act as it is made out to be. But it is a personally enriching experience. I don't believe in the whole story of teachers building children. The idea is to learn from them and ensure they retain their uniqueness. Also be aware of the damage we can do.
I am writing this today because, if we feel there is a problem with the system then we need to get involved. Especially those of us who are Artists. Art teachers in most schools have crazy timetables and are mainly seen as handlers, prop makers and funfair material makers. When, in fact, art teachers are those who can see beyond the written word, exams and marks. They can share a very different mental space with kids.
Many of my friends from the art world teach at the university level. It pays well and you can see the fruit of your guidance. But Its a very different thing to be involved with kids. In a university scenario you are guiding those who have come there to learn, those who are ready to receive. At school level you have the possibility to reach out and infect souls who know nothing about your subject and frankly don't even care!!
Most importantly, when I started interacting with children, I started understanding the inception of a thought process. With kids the thought process was often quite transparent. I could actually see how the mind perceives materials and how our eyes, hands, ears send different messages to the brain based on which faculty or sense we hone more. I realised how each mind is wired so differently that in reality nothing can ever be taught, it can only be learnt...learnt by each in his or her own unique way.
I learnt that ignorance is a wonderful and powerful tool which one must never let go of. It is vast and abundant and empowering. It is a special privilege. I started cherishing the unknown in my mind thanks to those 5 and 10 year olds. I realised that the unknown was a spring board to facilitate a jump.
Unfortunately, I also realised that the process of education is, in a strange way, going to make a child lose those spring boards.
I learnt a lot, I grew. I realised that interacting with kids and being a teacher is not a benevolent act as it is made out to be. But it is a personally enriching experience. I don't believe in the whole story of teachers building children. The idea is to learn from them and ensure they retain their uniqueness. Also be aware of the damage we can do.
I am writing this today because, if we feel there is a problem with the system then we need to get involved. Especially those of us who are Artists. Art teachers in most schools have crazy timetables and are mainly seen as handlers, prop makers and funfair material makers. When, in fact, art teachers are those who can see beyond the written word, exams and marks. They can share a very different mental space with kids.
Many of my friends from the art world teach at the university level. It pays well and you can see the fruit of your guidance. But Its a very different thing to be involved with kids. In a university scenario you are guiding those who have come there to learn, those who are ready to receive. At school level you have the possibility to reach out and infect souls who know nothing about your subject and frankly don't even care!!
That is where you build the audience for the artist that is graduating from college.
Also working with kids gives you the opportunity to discover a madly new perspective to life.
Kids today are going through something that is very unsettling. Schooling is becoming more and more irrelevant. Some Parents have the mental, physical and financial wherewithal to pull their children out of schools and find an alternative path. However, there are so many who don't have the luxury to do that, and that majority will make the future world. I feel us, artists ( a broad term) can make a difference here by sharing the joy of art. We can do it in our way, we don't have to teach in schools. Just giving an hour a month, to a bunch of kids around you to explore the joys of creating, is enough. I am not talking of doing programs on robotics, design thinking, green design or Art theory to kids. Please no! I am talking about mixing colours, collecting twigs, doing rangoli, making clay nothings, dancing, singing. You never know who you will heal and who will heal you. Throw those life buoys of art around!! you never know who or which drowning child may use it.
It breaks my heart when I see the damage the education system is capable of doing. It is becoming a bit bizarre and I have a feeling that something is going to give. I just hope it is not our kids.
Straight from the heart... and hence powerful. I totally agree with you!
ReplyDeleteThanks :) we must be on the same boat.
DeleteThe truth in my opinion is very well felt and said.
ReplyDeleteLovely , very well written
ReplyDelete