The Arts: A Way Of
Learning
Somebody once said that a qualification is what your school or college
gives you; but only a good and efficient system can give you an education.
Children today are busy buried in their books for hours, bearing the
weight of their humongous syllabus, missing out on precious education.
Over the decades, the process of studying has become very monotonous
and technical. Rote learning, combined with packed schedules, leave
very little time for school-going children to explore other areas
of growth and development, and to discover latent talents and hidden
skills that boost self-confidence. Areas such as drama, music, art
and craft add dimension to the learning experience.
The thrill and beauty of having created something, when you have begun
with absolutely nothing, is a joy that the arts can provide you. The
entire process of meeting
like-minded people, yet working amongst those with different wavelengths,
gives one an insight into a larger world and helps broaden one's horizons.
The arts, more often referred to as extra-curricular activities, hone talent, build organisational skills, promote discipline, foster camaraderie and encourage a child to experiment. Appreciation of beauty, caring for the environment and frugality too can be fostered. An ideal curriculum that aims at all-round development of a child helps him/her to be successful in the work sphere he chooses, as opposed to feeling lost and lonely by the isolated system of cramming and producing 'as is' during exams, giving little or no experience of work culture.
As a parent and teacher, one does realise that the system of education
in our country today has to undergo a sea change in order to be able
to balance a schedule for academics as well as the arts. However,
in the role we play as guardians of our children's future, we can
definitely pave the path by encouraging them to discover their skills
and explore avenues alongside the academic.
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