SCHOOL is a place that is meant to nurture young people, guiding us to our destinies, helping us to reach our full potential. At least that is what impressionable young people are led to believe, be it in the sermons at Monday morning assembly, or a physics teacher embellishing the mysteries of chemistry, which remain a mystery to most of those present in the class either way, with a dash of L.O because, in the words of my very own beloved physics teacher, “Guys, the time for playing games is over, university is around the corner”.
We are bombarded with school work, add to that planning a matric dance and compulsory, emphasis on the compulsory, extracurricular activities, time is a commodity which is both precious and scarce for most of us. Yet, for the things we love, we make the time.
These passions, vary from person to person, but at school they usually fit into one of two distinct enemy camps, ‘The Arts’ and ‘Sports’, and the hostilities that exist between the teachers that run the two sides of this battle, can be downright humorous to behold, oh, the things teachers say when they think we aren’t listening.
Yet, the sad truth is this ‘war’, is extremely unbalanced, time and again I have seen the arts play second fiddle to the herculean monstrosity that is rugby, hockey, netball, cricket, and swimming. Money is poured into sports programmes, sports captains treated like the legends of Greek mythology, while a possible future Picasso is overlooked, as a misunderstood, awkward child, rather than the genius that he or she may be.
Parents contribute to this sad state of affairs. I know when I told my parents I wanted to be an actor they gave me that, “We are not sending you to a private school to be a poor actor” look and whilst I still harbour this dream, which I am determined to pursue one day, I am fully aware that I owe them the decency of at least getting a degree that they can brag about to their friends and colleagues.
This mentality boggles my mind, because most of the very same parents encourage their children to take part in sports, and even pursue careers in sport, when the fact is that a career in sport is not much different from one in the arts. Both of these professions are extremely unpredictable and competitive, yet the arts are far more profitable for an individual, and offer more longevity as well. The only question is, what would you rather have your child be, a poor former sportsman at 38 or a poor former actor with the potential to still act at the same age?
What are you saying to your children, both as schools and parents, by investing so diligently in sports and almost completely ignoring the arts? Are you saying that one talent is more important than the other? Are saying that one person’s passion, is more worthwhile than the other? Are you saying that some children matter more than others? You may not realise it, but that is exactly what it feels like you’re saying.
Don’t demean a child’s passion or dream, just because you lack the vision to see the value it brings to their lives. Any which way they could end up poor anyway, let them at least be poor and happy. Believe it or not a world without cheesy movie quotes, or fist pump inducing music or even scenic paintings of the sea, is a world devoid of the simple pleasures of being alive, because let’s face it, God must be an artist, the Earth is proof of that.
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