education and expression

(Yomei Shaw)

This is a response to the discussion about education last meeting--triggered by HYF's comment about what a struggle it is to unlearn the habits that education gives us, that education binds and restricts the natural impulses of the student. Maybe I can take this a bit further to point out that generally, the assumption is that education 1) muffles creativity and 2) teaches students NOT to express themselves.

If I recall correctly there was an example raised about how in kindergarten we are taught to control our bodies and to sit still. Then by the time we grow up, we no longer 'know' how to move freely.

Maybe education tends to be a popular target to blame for the inexpressiveness of the younger generation. I'm sure that the above example is also true of my experience, but I'd also like to point out how education (and the adult world) imposes the demand for 'expression' on us.

I grew up in the States so I don't know what it would be like in HK or China (welcome others to comment on this, I'm curious). But I have a rather different point of view on expression. I must confess that I have a deep resentment against being told that I am not 'expressive' enough (a comment which I still get now and again, but which I've learned to ignore), because all throughout my life this is what my parents and teachers have tried to change in me. In order to push me to be more expressive and open, I've been put through all sorts of performing arts training ever since very young--piano, ballet, theatre camp. In piano particularly the pressure to perform expressively is very high. The program that I did was rather different than the way most kids seem to learn here in HK--not exam based, instead we have to participate in a very formal recital every term and of course, every chinese parent's favorite worst nightmare, piano competitions.

I'm not bitter but very grateful for those experiences, they were tough but it has given me a lot. I just think it is ironic how the training may have changed me. . . perhaps not in the way my parents intended at all. They may have thought intensive music training makes you a more well-rounded, expressive person. In my case, it may have led to overspecialization. . I'm very sensitive to music, and highly expressive on the piano and anything related to rhythm, but perhaps it has made me even more 'cold' and 'inexpressive' personally.

So what's the moral. . . MAKING YOUR CHILD INTO AN ARTISTIC PRODIGY WILL NOT MAKE THEM A BETTER PERSON? I'd be very happy if anyone wants to counter this argument or relate their own experiences. .