While I usually limit my rantings to topics revolving around education, today I'd like to shift my focus a little. Don't worry, dear readers, I won't stray too far from Education that my blog becomes unrecognizable; I know all of you just love my current subject matter. But there's an issue I have that I feel the need to tell strangers on the internet. This issue is the treatment of Visual Arts in our school system today (I told you it wouldn't be too far off the Education mark).
To be frank, the attitude towards the Arts is deplorable. Now, deplorable is not a word I use lightly. In fact, I rarely use the word at all. This should highlight my feelings towards this issue; I delved deep in my lexicon for a word reserved only for the most heinous instances (heinous is another one of these seldom used words of mine).
But I digress, the visual arts seem to be a second-hand subject in most schools. They are taught irregularly and for awkward lengths of time in many elementary schools, and exist almost solely as a requirement at the high school level. Oftentimes the arts are criticized for being inapplicable in everyday life, in contrast to say math or science. These statements make me want to cause people physical pain. I never would do that of course, no need to get skittish, dear readers, you're safe from my wrath.
Visual literacy, meaning the ability to understand visual imagery, spatial problems and the like, is equally important to logical reasoning or measurement skills. Its a unique to approach and potentially solve problems, but visual literacy is going overlooked in the current educational system. And no, its not a lack of interest causing these issues. To me, it seems to stem for this idea that math and science are the most important subjects. High schools students can choose between physics, chemistry, and biology, but there's no choice in the arts. No separate painting, drawing or sculpting. At best there is a separate class for photography.
"Oh" you cry, " but there's only a limited amount of money! We can't pay for everything we like!" After a laugh of derision I would respond, "Fools! There's NO funding for the arts!" That's correct, I'm not misquoting anyone, surprisingly. In Ontario, there is no specific funding for the arts. Thats none. Zip. Zero. Nadda. Nuthin'. All the money going towards the arts in Ontario comes from a "miscellaneous account". Do you know what also comes from that account? MISCELLANEOUS THINGS. The arts shouldn't have to share a budget with pep rallies and cleaning supplies, thats ridiculous.
I have one more gripe before I sign off today. Frequently the arts are discussed in terms of their value towards other subject areas. I'm going to stop right there for a moment. Let that thought digest. Seems reasonable doesn't it? 'What can the arts teach that will help in other subject areas' isn't too bad a question is it? Now let's switch it up a little. What if I were to ask, how does Phys Ed. affect our students' history marks? Its starting to sound a little strange now. Why would those two things need to connect? They seem nearly unrelated! Now imagine this is how the board decides your funding. Suddenly, you've got more in common with art teachers that you ever realized. You're outraged! Why should my subject getting funding based on its applications towards other subjects! Its an ugly truth, but its how our school system decides on funding. The arts are "miscellaneous", and no, they don't need more money because they don't affect our student's science scores, which are what really matters.
Now that I've inundated you with a ridiculous amount of rhetorical questions, I hope you're as annoyed as I am. In my usual fashion, I have no answer for these questions, but I hope at least you'll consider them for a bit. In fact, I implore you to consider them for at least 5 minutes. These questions may not affect you, but think of the art teachers! Think of me! I like funding as much as the next person and I firmly believe the arts should be judged on their own merits, not what they bring to other subject areas. I'll leave you with a piece as per usual, this one by the artist known as Mister Brainwash (aka Thierry Guetta).
Surprise! There's a lesson behind this piece. From my knowledge in Visual arts (which I couldn't have learned in any other class) I know Thierry Guetta to be a thieving little monster, concerned only with a paycheque. This piece here is "appropriated" (read a "stolen") from Andy Warhol's work. Crowds made Mister Brainwash a fortune, buying piece after piece of unoriginal work churned out by his art factory. Moral of the story? Visual literacy is at least as important as other literacies.
Until next time, Internet,
cjarvis
