Scotch College

Junior School Arts: ‘success is in the look’

Photography: Ms Jocelyn Pride

In his book, Brain Based Learning: The New Science of Teaching and Training, Eric Jensen states that ‘All human beings have a basic need to express their thoughts and feelings’. He goes on to say, ‘Learners need to be, at the very least, exposed to the various means of artistic expression; and ideally, provided with formal instruction in some of them’.

Jensen then lists mediums such as music, dance, theatre (drama), sculpture, design, writing/story-telling, information literacy, speaking/presentation skills and several more as being examples of how this can be achieved. Having great respect for the research of Eric Jensen, to me these comments speak volumes of the importance of a broad performing arts program.

The Scotch College Junior School is proud that boys are presented with opportunities to participate in a variety of activities that develop this important area of a boy’s development and that in the safe surrounds of a single sex environment, large numbers of boys are seen each week rehearsing, presenting or performing in a variety of music, drama and visual art activities.

I regularly observe boys for whom these types of opportunities provide such a wonderful springboard into the rest of their academic year, with high levels of personal belief and self esteem. Through activities such as these, we aim to develop the all round boy and hope to assist in his everyday learning. It is, then, a great thrill to watch a boy develop high levels of self-confidence through his involvement in one or more arenas of the performing arts, and then taking this renewed enthusiasm and confidence into the rest of his academic year.

‘Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted’ Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein’s quote (left) clearly reflects how difficult it is to measure success in the performing arts in an educational sense, as not everything that counts can actually be counted. For me, it is the look on the faces of the boys as they deliver their first recital, their only line in a play, their first presentation in our public speaking competition or just knowing that their demanding rehearsal schedule has finally paid off by participating in one of our many ensembles, choirs, orchestras, bands, dramatic productions or visual installations. The happy face of satisfaction, pride and self-awareness; a sense of belonging and a sense of personal success, says it all.

To see so many of our primary boys continue studying and participating in the performing arts throughout their secondary education speaks volumes about the quality of all that is presented each year by a specialised, enthusiastic and most talented staff, dedicated to presenting the best they can, for the boys of our Junior School. GS