Snowflake Challenge - Day 3

[dizzojay]

Challenge #3

In your own space, Scream Into the Void. Get it all out.

I don’t even know where to start!

There are so many things that I could rant about, I could be here until next week.

I can only comment on what’s going on in my own country, the UK, and there is a lot going on; the cost of living crisis, the country being paralysed by strike action, and our national health service being decimated by our useless conservative government...

So, I’m going to rant about something quite current,and specific, and something that is typical of our current government - their contempt of creative arts. In recent years, they have downgraded creative subjects in the national curriculum, and during the pandemic, our Chancellor glibly and famously stated that people in the entertainment industry, people who had devoted their entire lives to their art, should just ‘retrain and get other jobs’.

This week, the then chancellor, our now Prime Minister, a numbers man through and through - god help us -- stated that maths should be compulsorily taught to kids until age 18.

What about those of us who have no intention of going into STEM subjects? As one of those kids who hated maths and never flourished at it, and have never used any mathematical concepts beyond basic arithmetic, I am disgusted at our government’s total disregard to creativity and the creative arts generally.

It calls to mind a Facebook post I made a couple of years ago during the height of the pandemic, and I stand by every word I said:

‘I know the NHS has been keeping us alive, but who do the Government, in their 'wisdom', think has been keeping us sane during the last twelve months?

They don’t think art and creativity is important? Well, let them live in a world without music, literature, fine art, magazines, books, opera, dance, website design, video games, fashion design, interior design, landscape design, architecture, illustration, product design, graphic design, poetry, sculpture, greetings cards, TV, movies, photography, animation, hair and cosmetic design or jewellery.

Let them live in a world that is utterly grey and joyless, because apparently that’s what they want, and definitely what they deserve.’

Ok, rant over!

Here is a wonderful rant from Simon Pegg who comments on this matter far more eloquently - and colourfully - than I ever could!!

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[fairyniamh]

Omg, they are trying to adopt American education. It fucking sucks! Not going to lie. In our high schools (ages 13-18) it was required to take general math, a year of algebra, and then for the 3rd year we can choose between advanced Algebra, Geometry, or Calculus. Year 4 Advanced Geometry, advanced calculus or trigonometry. Guess who hates math?

We also have to take 2 years of foreign language. I took French; my husband took German and I studied Japanese and sign for fun. Balanced out the math crap.

[dizzojay]

Oh god, I despised algebra, geometry, calculus, trigonometry and all that crap.

What possible use is it to anyone who is just going forth into the world into a bog-standard office job?

As a profession, I've paid people's wages for 35 years of my life, and I've never used mathematical concepts beyond what I learned at middle school!

[tellshannon815]

Our government are a bunch of idjits. I was also never that good at those subjects and wouldn't have got anywhere being forced to take maths in sixth form. If anyone does need extra maths lessons it's the Tories, maybe then their sums will add up!

[quailmail]

Is it too late to change my topic for the challenge? I think you're onto something.

I have family who used to work in the music service, although they retired around the time the Tories came into power about ten years ago. They're still in contact with some of their old coworkers, apparently the service now is a shadow of its former self.

And it's a real shame! I didn't keep with any of the instruments I learned at school, but I'm still glad I had the chance to take music lessons. I think every student should have that opportunity!

[silveradept]

An excellent rant, and one sorely needed in many other places, as well. Arts education is always considered a luxury or optional against other, "core" subjects, but arts is essential and should be core as well.

[spiralicious]

Well ranted!

[shipperslist]

I agree with Simon Pegg.

[dizzojay]

I couldn't agree more. Forcing me to study maths beyond what I absolutely had to would have achieved nothing except switching me off of learning and further education, possibly for life.

That bunch of w-anchors are so out of touch with real life it'd be funny if it wasn't so frustrating.

[dizzojay]

Our Government consistently devalue and play down the creative subjects. I hate them for it.

[dizzojay]

I had this argument about the arts during Covid, when someone said creatives shouldn't be supported as they add nothing to society. I said to them, yes, the scientists and nurses and doctors, and essential workers have kept you alive during all the lockdowns but who do you think has kept you sane?

[dizzojay]

It was excellent, wasn't it!

[dizzojay]

So do I. 100%

[silveradept]

Someone who says creatives contribute nothing to society fails to recognize how much of their lives have creatives in them in one way or another. Because what is made isn't easily fungible or translated properly into dollars and pounds, and the quants have no idea what to do with it, so they call it a zero because then their models work again.