I have always been suspicious of any governmental scheme that sounds as though it is promoting spin and soundbite over substance. I have also been highly critical of the government’s policies on education. So I have never paid much attention to the “Fresh Start” scheme, which focuses on seriously underperforming state schools, where all options for improvement have been unsuccessfully exhausted. The school is closed and reopened on the same site, and is subject to reorganisational procedures.
A friend of mine is a dance teacher at one such school. Yesterday, the pupils staged a performance which she had helped to put together, and she invited me along to watch. What I saw of the performance, the school, the pupils and the dedication of the staff not only impressed me, but moved me practically to tears.
This particular school, located in an underprivileged area of central London, is a specialist arts and media school. Through the media of music, dance, drama and art, the school asserts its ethos of drawing out the potential of each child and instilling in them a thirst for learning, while bridging cultural, ethnic and religious divides. In addition to this, the school is committed to community-wide projects. These involve working with various arts foundations to benefit the pupils, as well as organising adult learning schemes in which the wider community may participate.
After being treated to Turkish dancing and African music, the main performance, incorporating music, dancing and drama, followed the title “Longing to Belong”, celebrating difference and diversity. The performers included a local group of adults with learning difficulties, and the look of pride and achievement on their faces at the end was absolutely priceless – and I am in awe of the teachers and pupils for putting the production together.
It is very easy to be “liberal” when you have the educated and economic freedom to be so inclined. It is also easy to fall for the misconception that you are worldly and open-minded just because you went to school or university with a culturally, ethnically and religiously diverse group of people. We need to be finding and supporting schemes that educate and allow everyone to live together in a mutually respectful environment. And the arts are an ideal way in which to effect this, for 2 reasons.
First, because education is about so much more than passing academic exams and going to university. It is about learning about the world around you; how each of us is a part of it, and has the ability to mould it and make a difference. It is about instilling in each individual a love of life and people and learning – and the desire to be a participating citizen. It is about realising the skills and abilities of every person and encouraging them to blossom. And this is not something that comes from memorising your times tables. A creative, extra-curricular hobby is an ideal way of teaching these values. Having the opportunity to showcase and develop creative skills is invaluable. It is complementary to the national curriculum; I know that when I took up kickboxing, I learned one of the most important lessons of my life: that anything is possible, but it takes time, perseverance, patience, dedication, belief and hard work.
Second, because, in contrast to other social and professional situations, involvement in the arts (in theory) transcends the socially-imposed barriers that divide us in the first place. In the boxing ring, the orchestra or on the stage, we are all willing participants, working together towards a common goal – what is more precious than this, and what better blueprint for living our lives can there be?
A friend of mine is a dance teacher at one such school. Yesterday, the pupils staged a performance which she had helped to put together, and she invited me along to watch. What I saw of the performance, the school, the pupils and the dedication of the staff not only impressed me, but moved me practically to tears.
This particular school, located in an underprivileged area of central London, is a specialist arts and media school. Through the media of music, dance, drama and art, the school asserts its ethos of drawing out the potential of each child and instilling in them a thirst for learning, while bridging cultural, ethnic and religious divides. In addition to this, the school is committed to community-wide projects. These involve working with various arts foundations to benefit the pupils, as well as organising adult learning schemes in which the wider community may participate.
After being treated to Turkish dancing and African music, the main performance, incorporating music, dancing and drama, followed the title “Longing to Belong”, celebrating difference and diversity. The performers included a local group of adults with learning difficulties, and the look of pride and achievement on their faces at the end was absolutely priceless – and I am in awe of the teachers and pupils for putting the production together.
It is very easy to be “liberal” when you have the educated and economic freedom to be so inclined. It is also easy to fall for the misconception that you are worldly and open-minded just because you went to school or university with a culturally, ethnically and religiously diverse group of people. We need to be finding and supporting schemes that educate and allow everyone to live together in a mutually respectful environment. And the arts are an ideal way in which to effect this, for 2 reasons.
First, because education is about so much more than passing academic exams and going to university. It is about learning about the world around you; how each of us is a part of it, and has the ability to mould it and make a difference. It is about instilling in each individual a love of life and people and learning – and the desire to be a participating citizen. It is about realising the skills and abilities of every person and encouraging them to blossom. And this is not something that comes from memorising your times tables. A creative, extra-curricular hobby is an ideal way of teaching these values. Having the opportunity to showcase and develop creative skills is invaluable. It is complementary to the national curriculum; I know that when I took up kickboxing, I learned one of the most important lessons of my life: that anything is possible, but it takes time, perseverance, patience, dedication, belief and hard work.
Second, because, in contrast to other social and professional situations, involvement in the arts (in theory) transcends the socially-imposed barriers that divide us in the first place. In the boxing ring, the orchestra or on the stage, we are all willing participants, working together towards a common goal – what is more precious than this, and what better blueprint for living our lives can there be?
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