Why it is difficult to groom budding artists in Singapore
Yes, Singapore education is world class, but based on astute observations, empirical evidence and personal experience, the primary school art syllabus needs a slight revamp in order to ensure that budding artists are given the opportunity to pursue their dreams. It is already extremely difficult for students to spend time on Art homework because of the heavy academic workload, yet teachers still expect students to be capable of sourcing for raw materials necessary for their art lessons. These raw materials are not expensive, but getting them can be an enormous headache for the student as well as their parents (or maids). The classic examples are listed below
1. The Hollow Egg Shell
This is perhaps one of the most dreaded requirements. Parents and Maids alike dread the time of the year when art teachers send children home with instructions to "bring a hollow egg for the next class". Some knowledge of fracture mechanics is critical for the processing of these shells, and a lack of such knowledge is likely to lead to the production of domes instead of egg shells. These egg shells are then used for painting or for making caricatures of humans and animals. One would imagine that the replacement of these shells by ping pong balls may be a viable and welcomed suggestion.
2. Toilet Roll Tube
Imagine a child going home on a Monday night and telling his parents "I have to bring at least 5 cardboard tubes from toilet paper rolls for art next week". Worse, imagine the kid forgetting this until Sunday night the following week. This cheap raw material is often used for craft lessons, where teachers like to ask their charges to design and make pencil holders or sculptures using cardboard rolls. What they do not realize is that this raw material has to be ordered way in advance, so as to allow families to use toilet paper at a normal and sane rate. Imagine having to use 5 rolls of toilet paper on a Sunday night! I remember my mum unrolling toilet paper onto a bamboo rod in order to provide me with a few cardboard rolls.
3. Ice Cream stick art
This is my favorite of course. When I have to bring ice cream sticks for art or for craft projects, I will start imagining how many ice creams I have to eat in order to accumulate a sufficient number of sticks. Unfortunately, entrepreneurs have already spotted this lucrative business opportunity, and packs of ice cream sticks have entered the market since the good ol days of ice cream binges. I remember having a discussion during art classes with my friend about our favorite icecreams, since we were both lucky enough to have been able to consume large quantities of ice cream based on the need for ice cream sticks.
Yes, Singapore education is world class, but based on astute observations, empirical evidence and personal experience, the primary school art syllabus needs a slight revamp in order to ensure that budding artists are given the opportunity to pursue their dreams. It is already extremely difficult for students to spend time on Art homework because of the heavy academic workload, yet teachers still expect students to be capable of sourcing for raw materials necessary for their art lessons. These raw materials are not expensive, but getting them can be an enormous headache for the student as well as their parents (or maids). The classic examples are listed below
1. The Hollow Egg Shell
This is perhaps one of the most dreaded requirements. Parents and Maids alike dread the time of the year when art teachers send children home with instructions to "bring a hollow egg for the next class". Some knowledge of fracture mechanics is critical for the processing of these shells, and a lack of such knowledge is likely to lead to the production of domes instead of egg shells. These egg shells are then used for painting or for making caricatures of humans and animals. One would imagine that the replacement of these shells by ping pong balls may be a viable and welcomed suggestion.
2. Toilet Roll Tube
Imagine a child going home on a Monday night and telling his parents "I have to bring at least 5 cardboard tubes from toilet paper rolls for art next week". Worse, imagine the kid forgetting this until Sunday night the following week. This cheap raw material is often used for craft lessons, where teachers like to ask their charges to design and make pencil holders or sculptures using cardboard rolls. What they do not realize is that this raw material has to be ordered way in advance, so as to allow families to use toilet paper at a normal and sane rate. Imagine having to use 5 rolls of toilet paper on a Sunday night! I remember my mum unrolling toilet paper onto a bamboo rod in order to provide me with a few cardboard rolls.
3. Ice Cream stick art
This is my favorite of course. When I have to bring ice cream sticks for art or for craft projects, I will start imagining how many ice creams I have to eat in order to accumulate a sufficient number of sticks. Unfortunately, entrepreneurs have already spotted this lucrative business opportunity, and packs of ice cream sticks have entered the market since the good ol days of ice cream binges. I remember having a discussion during art classes with my friend about our favorite icecreams, since we were both lucky enough to have been able to consume large quantities of ice cream based on the need for ice cream sticks.
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