The play was fantastic - attention grabbing, well-paced and well-acted. The young man playing the main protagonist held the show together for the full two hours needed, displaying a range of emotions and ability incredible for someone so young. However, what I want to talk about is the whole show - and that it was the success it was because of the teamwork of cast, stage crew and directors. My son - at the age of 15 - was in charge of some very tricky lighting where one missed cue would have ruined the effect. Other pupils were in charge of multimedia effects, props, and two walls that moved back and forth as needed. Everyone pulled together to produce a spectacular show.
It made me think about what we are teaching our youngsters. We stress the importance (rightly) of getting good grades in GCSEs (or O-Levels, as they were known when I sat them) and A-Levels, but how much attention do we pay to life skills? By these I mean being able to work and communicate effectively with others; being able to focus on something over a prolonged period of time because if you don't, you ruin the show; being able to understand where you fit into the "big picture"; being able to bring others along with you in pursuit of a vision.
I see many job adverts for people with "strategic thinking ability" and "leadership" and "communication skills". School is where it starts. School is where we prepare our youngsters to lead the future. School, unfortunately, seems to consist of continual tests and assessments which produce nothing except the ability (if you are lucky) to sit tests. We marvel that Oxbridge turn down "Straight-A" students, but if they have nothing to offer except straight As, why should they be accepted? We need rounded individuals, who have taken a few knocks and got back up again to fight. We need people who aren't just theoreticians, but practitioners experienced in something. If they have a capable brain as well, so much the better. How many successful captains of industry do we know who are pure academics?
Let's encourage schools to produce plays, musicals, sports teams, quiz teams. Let's drop the Health & Safety mentality which serves only to stifle the spirit of enquiry, exploration and adventure. We need our risk-takers, our leaders, our "players".
For two hours last night, I was truly in another world, feeling Winston Smith's suffering and doubt, and saddened in the end that "The Party" managed to extinguish the flame of enquiry and rebellion in him. Let us not be "The Party" to our young adventurers today!
Labels: Strategy
posted by William Martin @ 19:26
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