Culture of the Classroom: The Valedictorian Demon

It is my suggestion that there is a problem in our education system that is highlighted on the last day of school. I am talking about, as you guessed from the title, the valedictorian. Is this blog about 'everyone receiving a trophy'? No. The arguments against that are rampant on the internet, so I will not discuss that here. What this is about is creativity, imagination, daring to engage with the lost art of, well, art. More precisely, the arts. (You just said plural in your head, didn't you?)

Every year the students that have shown the diligence to study and take academic exams extremely well over their entire scholastic experiences are celebrated. I am not saying they should not be celebrated. These young men and women are amazingly gifted and that should be highlighted and praised. Do I consider them demons? Not the individual person, but the intention behind it. This is about celebrating the students with other gifts and strengths not captured by tests.

So what about those who don't measure up in the field of tests, lost in the system, who are not strengthened by quizzes, but are simply remarkable individuals in other areas? What about the kid who draws in class and is so passionate about drawing, but is not given the freedom to explore it? 

Can parents provide an outlet for kids to paint? Sure, they do all the time. Programs offer outlets for kids that need it. Even adults are now finding their way back to it with "Painting Happy Hours" (Groupon tickets available) where men and women can have beer, socialize while doing something that they probably wanted to do since they were kids. The after school painting class doesn't take away from the fact that this side of their life is not as important as learning the types of clouds that are in the sky. Sorry Mrs. Porter, I still can't remember them all. Extracurricular activities are extra when it some kids' lives it should be curricular.

What about the teachers? Honestly, I really wish the conditions were better for teachers. I have family and friends that are teachers. They don't know my prayers for them, but here is some of the insight. My prayer for them is to have a desire to inspire, not have all straight A students, nor is it that their teaching career become the most watched reality TV show.

(Tangent: To teachers I say this: I have never been in your shoes, but I believe you are the best in society. You're creating the future leaders and engineers and developers of the next culture. Parents don't get as much time with these kids as you do. In my mind, you are not even simply teacher. You are more than that. You are the one to shape and mold these minds.)

I am a parent now, and though it still sounds funny to say that to myself, I have loved every minute of it. When I watch and engage with my son, I am fascinated by what merely interests him. Seeing him learn is beautiful. I don't want to spoil him and give him everything. He will do without and understand that not everything is given to him at a whim. But in all my power and abilities, and with the help of teachers that I will probably annoy, my son will be given free 'reign' to explore who he is. If he is strong in academics, I will cultivate the best learning environment possible. If it is related to the arts, then somehow I will make that priority against the grain while he learns the art of discipline in the classroom, and I don't only mean that as behavior.

I know someone that would always get into trouble in school, but was really smart. Sure, he lacked the discipline to focus on the tests and do well. If you connected the dots you would realize that it was not his behavior that needed adjustment, but rather the school system. The academic portion was not strong enough to outweigh his creativity. It was not powerful enough to make him forget his desire to engage with his imagination. The school system, still today, sadly, is not enough.

Now I understand that we have schools designed for arts (i.e. performing arts and the sort). But my question is why is this not the social norm? Why are they separate? No, not why are they separate. Why are they STILL separate?  It is up to you and I to formulate and design a way for all types of students to be given the credit due their nature. Do you understand why I used those two words, formulate and design? It is because I believe in a world where the academic and the imaginative minds can come together to create a world that helps our kids see beyond the limitations of the world around them. Do you?