AN OFFICIAL from the Ministry of Education has expressed concern over the dramatic decrease in art education in schools.
Speaking at the presentation of awards for the Wibisco Centennial Art Competition at the People’s Cathedral yesterday, Joy Gittens noted that even though studies showed that students performed better when they were involved in the arts, schools were not taking heed.
“Some of our teachers and parents see it as a soft subject – pleasant and therapeutic but not important.
A lot of people think there is only English and Maths. But I say, and we at the ministry believe, that art is going to play an important role in our society in one way or another,” Gittens said.
She said children had vivid imaginations and needed to be able to express their creativity, and encouraged them to see themselves as one of the great artists out there and continue to draw and express themselves.
Although she acknowleged that the majority of the classrooms of primary schools were creatively decorated with posters and pictures, she charged the secondary schools in particular with putting more “stimulating” material on the walls.
“Teaching children about art is not teaching them about Van Gogh or Picasso or any of the great ones.
It is about teaching them to express themselves and showing them how to recognise a Van Gogh or Picasso, it’s about preparing young minds for a future of invaluable experiences for those who will follow. It’s about creativity, it’s about believing in yourselves. We have numeracy skills, literacy skills in terms of English. I believe that art is the literacy of the heart, it is one of those soft skills that we need,” Gittens stated.
She also expressed disappointment that of the more than 100 schools on the island, only 23 – seven secondary and 17 primary schools – entered the competition.
“I would therefore send the message out now to all the other primary schools, take up all of these opportunities to allow our children to experience and take part in art competitions. I would encourage all schools to make sure and realise the importance of art in the curriculum,” she urged.
Chief judge for the competition, Neville Legall, also spoke to the need for more Barbadians to be educated about art. He encouraged the young artists to continue working and said the future of artistic expression was in good hands in the schools.
Barry Marshall of The Lodge School and Tiffany Roach of The People’s Cathedral Primary School were the toasts of the secondary and primary school entrants respectively, taking the first prize in their categories as well as the prize for Best Overall Entry. Deighton Griffith, which had the largest number of representatives at the ceremony, also took prizes for Best Overall Secondary School and Best Overall Art Teacher in Wendy Lewis. Hillaby Turner’s-Hall took similar prizes for primary schools. Their teacher is Ruth Crichlow.
Wibisco shared out more than $10 000 in prizes for the various winners. The art work will also be on display at the company next week Monday through Wednesday. Additionally, 12 of the winning pieces and the artists will be in Wibisco’s 2011 calendar.
The list of winners in descending order is as follows:
Five to six: Adriana Grimes (Hillaby Turner’s Hall), Ryan Lashley (St Gabriel’s), Latoya Hoyte (Hillaby Turner’s Hall); seven to nine – Tiffany Roach (People’s Cathedral), Elijah Moore (People’s Cathedral), Fiona Armstrong (St Gabriel’s); ten to 11 – Chad Downes (Hillaby Turner’s Hall), Sham Alleyne (Hillaby Turner’s Hall, Britney Spencer (Luther Thorne Memorial); 12 to 14 – Mya Watson (Harrison College), Shamar Marshall (Deighton Griffith), Jamila Wood (Foundation); 13 to 17 – Barry Marshall (The Lodge), Alexie Charles (Foundation), Kyle Sargeant (Deighton Griffith); Best Overall Primary Entry – Tiffany Roach (People’s Cathedral); Best Overall Secondary Entry – Barry Marshall (The Lodge); Best Overall Primary School – Hillaby Turner’s Hall; Best Overall Secondary School – Deighton Griffith; Best Overall Primary School Art Teacher – Ruth Crichlow (Hillaby Turner’s Hall) and Best Overall Secondary School Art Teacher – Wendy Lewis (Deighton Griffith). (YB)
