The Commencement Address

Let me begin by saying that I was uber-impressed with the Commencement Speaker and with his Commencement Address. Sir Ken Robinson was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts and had the distinct pleasure of giving the address. During the presentation of the honorary degree, President Maeda said Sir Ken Robinson (hereafter referred to as Sir Ken) was a hero of his and that when he heard Sir Ken speak he was inspired to change his own life, and did. I was struck with the same sort of sentiment.

Sir Ken was very witty and British. He moved to LA on June 30, 2001, right before Independence Day and a few months before September 11th. Speaking to the RISD graduates, he applauded their momentous accomplishment. As "artists" he says, "[They] pushed [themselves] through a system that wasn't designed in high school to help [them]." People who have a passion and that passion is in the arts, are essentially swimming upstream in the world of contemporary education. He told a funny story about Americans not understanding irony which led to his criticism of the "No Child Left Behind" legislation. He says that since that legislation was implemented, 70% or more of schools have cut back or totally eliminated "Arts" programs. This was obviously not the point of the legislation, but the unintentional effect because our current education system is rooted in the 19th century style of learning. WE are in the 21st century.

He quoted Abraham Lincoln, "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country." This is a quote from Lincoln's annual address to Congress, one month before signing the Emancipation Proclamation. Sir Ken talked about his book The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. The element is the point at which natural talent meets personal passion.

He summarized four points for graduates: cherish your talents, but cherish other people's talents, as well; make connections; life is not linear; human talent is buried deep...you often have to look hard for it. He concluded by challenging all to use everything you have. That is use your God given talents to the fullest extent.

I see in Rhode Island a state that has a huge deficit, an unemployment rate of 11.3%, terrible roads, and people/businesses leaving the state left and right. After living in Texas, I think it must suck to be such a small state with fewer taxpayers and fewer reasons for businesses to settle here. So many school districts in the state are on the verge of bankruptcy and are having to cut budgets. The first things to go are teacher benefits/pay and the arts. What kind of education will children be receiving with unhappy teachers and no arts education? What if those children are not "book learners"? Won't this only increase the "gap" we already have in the education system? I don't know what the solutions are, but I AM inspired to take action.