On Beauty & The Arts
When I was in 8th grade, my English teacher assigned a book report to the class, and I had no idea what to read. She encouraged me to try The Hobbit. At the time, I knew nothing of the story and had never heard of the book, but I remember liking the front cover (there was a dragon). I read it alongside my best friend, Josh, because reading books and talking about stories together was something we had done from when we were little. After we finished The Hobbit, we told our teacher that we had loved the story and that we were sad that it was now over. We both lamented that Tolkien had not written a sequel. She laughed and then introduced us to The Lord of the Rings. Since then, I have returned to Middle Earth many times to read about Aragorn, Gandalf, the Ents, and the Elves…to read about those who love Goodness more than Power and those who value friendship beyond circumstance.
This story … does something good for my soul.
Beauty always operates thus.
Some might not understand why we prioritize teaching the Arts at FRCS. Admittedly, we require a great deal of time to be spent exploring disciplines and skills which are not directly useful for a career. Students here learn to craft, cook, draw, sing, and to imagine. Indeed, students are required to take a certain amount of credits in the Fine & Performing Arts and a certain amount of credits in the Common & Practical Arts. This is because our vision of education is one in which students participate in the healing of a broken world, and we recognize that beauty has a unique ability to heal. There is a kind of brokenness which cannot be healed by an answer… but only by a song. Art can do something to restore perspective that a dialogue simply cannot do. Beauty, perhaps, always mends the soul.
This is how Christmas chapel felt for me a few weeks ago. As Lucas Berwick played on the electric guitar, or as Miss Downs and Mrs. Sanburn performed, or as Mama Payne read her story, or as the Kindergarten class acted out their plays…I was struck by beauty. I walked out feeling more aware of the pleasant things around me, more thankful for the people in my life, and more eager to bring goodness with me to whatever I touched next. The beauty unlocked in the Arts at FRCS is happening for two reasons. First, skilled and motivated teachers are creating spaces for students to explore their giftedness. Second, and perhaps more interestingly, something already exists in students which is trying to get out. We did not place it there (though Someone did). It has been there since the beginning. And this thing that is trying to get out…it will make the world a more beautiful place.
We just need to nurture it and let it grow.
