“Those who educate children well are more to be honoured than they who
produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.”
― Aristotle
Learning is a continual, lifelong ritual of
evaluation and re-evaluation. Every experience we have leads us to frame our
next encounter in a different way. As time is a continuum, so is our life’s
experience. Seemingly repetitive events, with the right approach, can be
experienced for the first time, every time. This is so important in the
performing arts.
The playing of a piece of music, or the
performance of a play, monologue, or dance is both tangible and intangible. Existing
only for the period that it is performed, an artist strives to breathe new life
into their performance with every presentation. For no two performances can
ever be the same. With this concept I hope to inspire my students.
The performing arts curriculum helps students
toward a greater understanding of the human experience.
We teach each other. The title of teacher in a
classroom setting should be changed to the title of learning guide. I endeavour
to learn as much from my students as they from me.
Though we place great stock in acquired
knowledge and experience, I am continually inspired by the creative solutions
of young students. There is something intrinsically valuable about the
fragility of youth, its innocence, and its honesty.