Hollywood calls them the triple threat, the collective gold standard of talent: singing, dancing and acting. Jennifer Lopez comes to mind for me in the 21st century. In the last one, it was Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Debbie Reynolds, to name a few of the incredibly talented stars possessing this supreme magical talent. Television, stage and the big screen helped deliver these incredible 'actors' to us.
It came to mind, recently, that education has its own built in triple threat: Academics, Athletics and the Arts, the triple 'A' system of education. ... Alter this trio of gold in any way and the learning curve begins to change, sometimes, dramatically, in a downward spiral for the child not immersed in the culture of 'Triple A'.
In a system designed to educate our children, why is it O.K. that the arts (music, drama, visual arts) and athletics (team and individual sports, gymnastics- even recess!) are, simply, dismissed or worse, deleted, from a rigorous learning agenda in favour of a strictly academic focus. We are shortchanging our children -big time- when just one of education's triple threat partners is missing. Our long term wellbeing, health and success in life and workplace are threatened when each partner in the trio is not treated with respect, especially, for the youngest and most vulnerable among us.
It was important that our sons learn how to skate and swim, early in life. (We live in Canada where winter is a feature of our daily lives, several months of the year. Public skating lessons were begun) Then, there is the summer, where water sports form the basis of everyday living. (Group swimming lessons were ongoing, Spring and Fall) ... Learning these life giving skills also facilitated their learning experience. ... Even walking is athletics, an endeavour worth considering and doing, in the absence of structured athletic programs. ... A strong focus on movement helps to build strength, in mind and body. It also allows for a brief departure from the rigours of academic learning to permit a different kind of brain workout, involving the whole body. (And as we have learned, it keeps us healthy!)
When our boys were in elementary school -our oldest in grade 5- an Arts focus program was introduced into the northern region of our school board, one of the largest in the province of Ontario. Those interested, applied. (The program's focus: motivation, participation and positive attitude.) This divergent approach to academics was heralded as a new and exciting path to learning. (Transportation to the Arts program was the responsibility of the parents.) .
We could never have afforded this concentrated 'arts' program on our own. This composite programming of music, the dramatic and visual arts, in conjunction with physical education and academics now formed the foundation of our sons' educational 'gold' package. Sadly, this program lasted 6 years before its retirement. ... I chose music, an elective, in high school, joined the school choir and participated in musical productions each year. ... My husband's musical experience included the completion of grade ten piano and for a few hours, one evening long, long, ago, he was the drummer for the English rock band, the Kinks, when they visited Canada in the early 60's.
The Arts, with its strong music/dramatic arts component, should be available for all children, in all jurisdictions, not just for the select few or for those where transportation is not a problem. The Arts and Athletics combined with academics bring to the individual untold health, wellbeing and success in life and work.
When we
challenge the brain through music and athletics, we strengthen our
body and mind in incalculable ways, that last a lifetime. ...Let us
think of the triple threat in education as a right for all children,
especially, for those deemed at-risk. Bathing the very young child in
a world of music appreciation, painting, dance is to begin the task
of triple A orientation, slowly and methodically. It shows the world
to be a friendly, familiar face where learning is an everyday
occurrence and new experiences are not to be feared.
Problem with Canada's education system with its Academic, Athletic and Arts focus is that a person from a jurisdiction where they teach kids to be able to actually do something useful can walk in and take over. This would be a person like Frank Stronach, who was streamed out of the AAA system into a trade--toolmaking back in war-torn Austria. Stronach succeeded wildly with Magna International simply because our educational system here was turning out nothing but lawyers, doctors, academics, artists and athletes. It was no contest. We need to do a re-think here.
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