Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Joshua Nyapimbi
18 November 2008
Harare — How can someone who does not truly believe that they are creative be expected to believe that other people, just like them, are?
It is entirely "normal" that adults who have spent their lives having their own creativity trivialised and denied, will then do exactly the same thing to the next generation.
We have to break this cycle! However, this is particularly difficult within an education system that is historically focused on preparing the young to join the "work force" rather than to examine and enjoy life.
Compounding the problem, art in schools is no longer an exploration and celebration of a group of children's creativity. Instead it is an elective focused on skill acquisition accompanied by the occasional and terribly serious public performance or exhibition, a semi-academic examination or appreciation of historical technique and, or an extra-curricular activity. The fun, the joy, the creativity, the improvisation have been abandoned in favour of "preparation".
We simply must ensure that the creativity of our children is not enveloped the minute they become teenagers. Continuing to perpetuate this crime would be the worst of obscenities.
In my view the reasons for supporting arts education fall into two categories: intrinsic (for its own sake) and instrumental (as a means to other ends).
Intrinsically, arts are valuable for their own sake and not as a means to any end. This is illustrated by a paraphrase of a quote by John Adams: "We study war and politics so that our children can study business and commerce, so that their children can study literature and the arts."
Instrumentally, arts education greatly improves student performance in other academic areas, including mathematics. There are many studies that establish this.
Research shows that young people who participate in the arts for at least three hours in three days each week for one full year or more are four times more likely to be recognised for academic achievement, three times more likely to be elected to class office, four times more likely to participate in a maths and science fair, three times more likely to win an award for school attendance and four times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem.
In addition, young arts participants as compared to their peers are likely to: Read for pleasure nearly twice as often, participate in youth groups nearly four times as frequently and perform community service nearly twice as often.
The fact is: Arts education makes a tremendous impact on the developmental growth of every child, and has proven to help "level the learning field" across socio-economic boundaries.
Art also has proven to make a measurable impact on at risk youth by deterring delinquent behaviour and truancy problems while also increasing overall academic performance.
In addition, arts education strengthens student problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, adding to overall academic achievement and school success.
Furthermore, it gives students a deeper appreciation of the world around them. But the sad truth is your child or grandchild is likely to spend more time roaming the streets or taking drugs than in some sort of art class.
The purpose of arts education is not to produce more artists, though that is a by-product. The real purpose of arts education is to create complete human beings capable of leading successful and productive lives in a free society.
This past weekend the School Playwrights and Actors Academy (SPAA) hosted its inaugural SPAA Festival in Bulawayo.
Congratulations go to Mpopoma High School for scooping five awards, namely Best Director -- A. Mangoro, Best Production, Best Costume, Best Actor -- Kevin Bhuru and Best Actress -- Lisa Sidambe. Msiteli walked away with three awards namely, Merit Award Supporting Actor Liberty Sibanda and Supporting Actress -- Gwendolin.
There where no winners in the Best Set and Best Script categories.
The SPAA seeks to stimulate and support free expression of the children's creativity, originality and the development of all-round versatility through theatre. For feedback and comments email: jnartbeat@gmail.com
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100% congratulations to the author and complete surprise at the Herald giving press to such an intelligent comment.........Now everyone grab a teacher and go back to school.