I had a 6th grade kid tell me this last week, while doing Art, that he couldn't do the project because he was a boy, and art is for girls, and only girls are good at art. Needless to say, this annoyed me immensely. Not due to his apparent belief, or possible 6th-grade unwillingness to complete the project, but because of his obviously ingrained idea that creative things or art or anything with some culture to it is 'for girls', (as opposed to things that are 'for men').
Don't even get me started about the years I spent not bothering telling anyone around me I drew or painted, as such things were for 'girls' or 'poindexters'. I know this kid spends all his time in an environment in which any creative, artistic impulse is derided, mocked, and suppressed.
So, I told him, "You're perfectly capable of completing this project, and if you are going to tell me you can't be artistic because only girls do that, I'm going to make absolutely sure you finish this work." He didn't get a whole lot done, but he didn't complain again, so that's okay with me.
That kind of thing really is a pet peeve of mine: people who believe, and teach their kids, that school, art, intellectual pursuits, reading, etc. are somehow 'not manly'. How destructive can you get?
UPDATE, 4:47 pm. I just got back from the grocery store and discovered I'd not known it's Superbowl Sunday.
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Well I knew yesterday was the day, but I did not participate in the ritual, although I saw the highlights this morning on TV.
ReplyDeleteMy family always valued art quite highly. especially since we all stunk at drawing, painting etc. My sister and my dad are both published writers, and mom used to make a lot of quilts, which I consider art.
Try to keep their minds open if you can, LN.