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Arts in Education – by Chitra Krishnamurthy
To me learning implies not just words, but seeing, listening, observing and carrying out actions that can take place when the mind is quiet. These actions can bring about a quality of life that can give happiness and joy.
Today's education systems make children remember information using the faculty of memory. We all know the limitations of it. If we believe that knowing about lot of things is the most essential pursuit of life, we shall end up in frustration and with information. The information would be just words which does not touch our heart. Most the time spent in the years of schooling, is towards memorisation or trying to understand various concepts in mathematics or science which were very meaningful to the discovers of these concepts. We chose to go through this system as it offers bright prospects in terms of jobs and all of us leaving a few want it.
If imagination and self - expression , which are part of human capacities , have to be given value arts, craft, music should be given importance. Arts, crafts and music can give human beings the joy of the immeasurable and unknown. This I understand from my work in the field of art,craft and singing with children in different schools and with myself. These subjects, if we call them so for convenience , are not considered important by the society. Thereby we give very less time and exposure in this area, hence missing opportunities that can create a balanced life.
Of my classes in academic subjects, art and craft, I find the children relaxed in the art and craft classes. They thoroughly enjoy the classes. They are willing to correct themselves and make improvements in their work. The joy I find in their faces motivates me to carry on the work. Most of the children I work with are from difficult social and economic backgrounds. They study academics for the sake of qualification for jobs. Most of them find memorization very difficult. Their involvement in the arts and crafts classes is full and many of them do excellent work. One can perhaps draw a hypothesis that these activities coordinate the mind, body and senses and gives them a feel of beauty or order of the universe.
In the Art and Crafts workshops conducted for the teachers we found a similar response. Most of them had very less exposure doing art and craft activities and they thoroughly enjoyed learning and doing the activities planned for them. The outcome was joyful hours of working.
Including arts and music in education, does not necessarily mean that we want the children to be artists or musicians or craftsmen. The efforts in this direction can help the potential of the artist hidden in every human being to flower. This flowering may enable a person to develop a sense of aesthetics and empathy towards arts and crafts and music and make his own living joyful. Mr. Deviprasad in his book "Art the basis of education"extensively shaes his experiences in the art education. It is worth browsing and if time permits to go through the book as it would help us to understand the minds.
The psychologists say that art gives a constructive vent to human emotions. Personally I feel that it helps the mind in slowing down the thought process as our own work and the material being used disciplines us, teaches us to be quiet and give attention. The present day life styles lack connectedness with ourselves and with the nature around and makes our minds feel more insecure. Bringing forth the artist in us is essential to living creatively as a human being with peace within.
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