Liberal Arts?

There are too many ways to be distracted in my form of education. Because there is so much to do none of it can be done well. Or, perhaps I am just lazy, which is not unlikely.

Still, what if I had an entire day devoted to only one or two subjects? Say literature through the morning and early afternoon, a break, and then painting for the rest of the day. So much could be accomplished!--A large portion of a book read, a poem memorized, a reflection drafted, or a sketch drawn, a background formed, a color perfectly mixed and applied. (I don't actually know how to paint--I'm using words I speculate apply.) But, as it is, I am involved in choir, work-study, up to three classes in one day, and the ever-active social life on the campus, not to mention homework. I must check the time at least once every hour, recall what my obligations are, and go fulfill my word. I have the sneaky feeling I need to do less in order to do more. Quality over quantity.

In those days a boy on the classical side officially did almost nothing but classics. I think this was wise; the greatest service we can do to education today is to teach fewer subjects. No one has time to do more than a very few things well before he is twenty, and when we force a boy to be a mediocrity in a dozen subjects we destroy his standards, perhaps for life. Smewgy taught us Latin and Greek, but everything else came in incidentally.

C.S. Lewis says this, while reflecting on his Wyvern College years in Surprised by Joy, the autobiographical telling of his travels through Atheism and Christianity. What I find most enjoyable are his stories and elaborations of personal opinions of practicality and art.

Educational institutions would do well to follow Lewis' advice. I have seen the lack of focus in my home-town's schools, but only because I was not in the system and watching from a distance. Oftentimes my peers had absolutely no concept of how to do anything well, from writing a story to cleaning a toilet. I have seen the same situation in my college class, although it is coming to be less with two years of teachers' encouragement to start thinking behind us. My academic focus, too, has been split and wandering about since my sophomore year of high school. I've simply wanted to do everything, but do not have the time.

In the perfect world, I would have one, maybe two teachers at a time, instructing me in languages. But, the instruction of those teachers would be so fully and broadly based, that I would learn more than language. I would learn history and morality and religion and rhetoric and more, since in reality everything is influenced by connections. I would not pursue a liberal arts education--I would be liberally overwhelmed by one, maybe two, arts.

I have here said "Languages" as the perfect subject for me, but that is probably not true. It is language that I have not touched in my "liberal" education. I have always wanted to learn languages, Thoreau says that classics are best read in their original languages, and Lewis is a scholar of languages. The reason I say "language" is because I am reading and admiring those who know language, and I am used to splitting my focus into everything I can conceive. I can see myself getting on rather well in the subject of visual arts, an area I know I have talent and at least some experience in. So, until I find that great teacher, back to the liberal arts institution I go! I am excited, since it is the best connection to the arts available to me, liberal or not.