SCHOOL: Oberlin High School

ADDRESS: Lawrence Tavern, St Andrew

FOUNDED: 1946

PRINCIPAL: Michelle Spencer

IT’S Reggae Month and we are seeking to connect the dots between visual and performing arts as extra-curricular activities and careers. In the hot seat this week are the head students of Oberlin High School, known for its prowess in the performing arts having copped three of TVJ’s All Together Sing 11 titles (2005, 2006, 2010). Oberlin, which is on its 70th year of existence, also does exceptionally well at Jamaica Cultural Development Commission competitions.

HEAD BOY: Shamar Hall

DOB: November 21, 1997

CAREER ASPIRATION: Economist

Reason: Throughout Jamaica and the wider Caribbean poverty and many other economic issues are major concerns that need to be addressed. I therefore aspire to assist the Government in making critical and realistic decisions and implementing the necessary measures to reduce poverty and address the other issues, hence making the economy better and improving the standard of living of each citizen.

NOTABLE AWARDS: Gold Medal at the 2014 WorldSkills Jamaica Competition in the Category of Software Application; Co-Valedictorian for the Class of 2014

HEAD GIRL: Keniece Smellie

DOB: January 1, 1997

CAREER ASPIRATION: I am unsure of the exact job at the moment but I would like to pursue a career in business management.

Reason: Careers in business management require people who have natural leadership qualities and who are able to inspire and motivate employees. I have the natural and learned qualities to lead, delegate and coach/direct. I have always been placed in positions for leading groups and getting work done.

NOTABLE AWARDS: Thelma James Award for Most Disciplined and Positive Student 2012-2013; Oberlin High’s Top CAPE Award 2015

C&E: Your school has had an illustrious history in the performing arts. What accounts for this?

SH: Our history in the performing arts is as a result of both the tremendous natural talent of the students as well as the skill and dedication of our teachers.

KS: This is as a result of the phenomenal talents that are present at Oberlin, the dedication of students and our hardworking teachers.

C&E: Has any of this impacted the academic potential of students in any way? If yes, how?

KS: I do believe that the performing arts has had a major impact on the academic potential of the students. The performing arts has allowed students to incorporate their talents in learning the various subjects. For example, when students are doing in-class presentations, they are able to bring across their topic in a simpler way such as acting, poetry etc. During these types of presentations, those who are involved in the performing arts usually excel. In addition, the performing arts is an extra-curricular activity which enables the students to be all-rounded and in turn be more marketable at the end of their time at Oberlin.

C&E: How can the performing arts be used in the classroom to improve students’ academic performance?

SH: It is a known fact that not everyone learns through the same medium; some are visual or oral learners, and as such teachers could incorporate the performing arts in the lessons. They can use short skits, dub poems and songs to teach topics, especially those which are considered to be hard or boring.

KS: Each student is different and therefore the way in each student learns is different. Some students learn orally, visually, aurally, physically etc. Performing arts can be used in the classroom to teach the lesson in different ways to cater to each student. This allows the students to better retain what they have learnt because it was taught in a ‘fun’ way.

C&E: We see that careers in the arts are increasing in demand. Do you think that the current education system prepares students to take advantage of these emerging careers? Explain.

SH: Yes, it does prepare students to take advantage of these careers, because not only are the performing arts in schools as extra-curricular activities but they are also part of the curriculum in some schools. However, at grade nine students get to choose the subjects they want to do in grade 10 and many times the majority does not select any of the performing arts.

C&E: What can be done to change that?

SH: Just as the Ministry [of Education] makes it mandatory for students to do mathematics and English language, I believe they should also make it compulsory for students to do at least one of the performing arts subjects up to the CSEC level. As such, you will have more students doing the arts and some might develop it into a career. Also, the Government can subsidise the tuition of persons doing the arts at the tertiary level as a means of encouraging people to do the arts and create careers from it.

C&E: Do you think that careers in the visual and performing arts are respected in Jamaica? Why or why not?

KS: For the most part no because the majority of the population in Jamaica is unaware of the actual careers that stem from visual and performing arts. They see it as just something people do for fun.

C&E: What do you think is the perception of musical careers in Jamaica?

SH: When one thinks of music as a career in Jamaica, one tends to only think of dancehall. In my view, this is as a result of globalisation, and the lack of recognition and appreciation for our rich musical history. As such, many up and coming artistes do not sing songs that identify with the broader culture of Jamaica per se, but often stick to dancehall songs because they are being demanded globally. As a result, the culture of Jamaica is undermined and dancehall becomes dominant. So when people think of Jamaican music they think of dancehall.

KS: The main reason for this, in my opinion, is the Internet, particulalrly social media. Reggae and dancehall artistes are more talked about on social media than all the other artistes in different musical fields in Jamaica. Therefore the different musical genres that exist and that develop into careers are not explored. For instance, most youth today wouldn’t know about the saxophonist Dean Fraser unless they have studied the history of music in Jamaica.

C&E: What do you think current musicians can do to positively influence the perception of music as a career?

KS: Currently some musicians make the type of music that will sell or make them a large profit with a certain audience. I think current musicians should make music that will identify with the true Jamaican culture, not just dancehall, and promote it to a larger audience. This will allow for the incorporation of the different musical careers.

C&E: Would you encourage a student to pursue a career in the visual and performing arts?

KS: Yes, I would. However, I would urge them to be creative and be different. Careers in the arts are very competitive and to be successful in this area you have to be original and have an edge over others.

C&E: How can you, as a student leader, help in this respect?

SH: As the head boy, I could help to encourage students to pursue a career in the arts by speaking to them about it at a general devotion, and I could even go ahead and plan a seminar where [professionals] would come and talk to the students about why they should choose a career in the arts and the benefits of choosing such a career.

KS: As a student leader it is one of my many responsibilities to inspire and encourage students. As the head girl, I would, with the assistance of the fellow students at Oberlin, identify students who have exceptional talents in the arts and find ways of educating them about careers in the arts. For example, working with the guidance department to arrange seminars that focus on careers in the arts, provide brochures or posters with information about careers in the arts, etc.

C&E: Do you plan to pursue leadership at higher levels?

SH: I have natural leadership skills and qualities, and as such I do believe I will pursue leadership at higher levels, as wherever I go I will take up leadership responsibilities.

KS: Yes. My intended career in business management requires having good leadership skills, which is a very important factor as managers are given the responsibility of leading/ managing persons in order to get the job done.

— Aldane Walters