I met Jill Carter on a Journal Making course earlier in the year and she was inspirational, giving the individual an opportunity to voice their thoughts and ideas. I thought that she would be an ideal artist to give our students the freedom and courage to develop their own project. We discussed an outline brief where the students had to take ownership of the project, develop the plan as they tried out new ideas, developed independence but also were able to listen to others sympathetically and work out a group response.
We invited a group of year 9 boys to have a go! We wanted to see if we could develop their leadership skills, creative thinking, use the Arts to engage others, especially in the community, and use storytelling in a wide variety of formats. Basically I handed ownership of the entire project to 16 year 9 boys and stood back, took a deep breath, gave up my office and had faith that it would work. Fingers were quietly crossed behind my back and off they set!
There needs to be a place for wonder, excitement, enjoyment, risk taking and engagement in education and the arts are a wonderful vehicle for this. We hoped that the boys would enjoy learning new skills and explore how the arts opens doors to new ways of thinking.
That first session when they first met Jill could have been a disaster. There was no lesson plan, no starter activity and they had to come up with the ideas. Supported by Jill they opened the large trunk sitting in the centre of the room and it all started.
Meeting were held and the boys divided into two Quest Groups who were going on a Journey. When I heard about the giant rabbit my heart sank as I imagined all sorts of negative possibilities. Teacher of little faith!!!.
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| It's all about taking risks! |
Quest 1
The story developed into a woebegone stranger who wants a new life, needs friends and wants to look at all the possibilities of meeting people in the community. They went out into Westbury and the rabbit was introduced to the greengrocer who looked at the diet of a rabbit, to the estate agent to look at housing, the vet to look at his general health. The chemist gave Gregory ( as the rabbit is now known) medication for his nits. The coffee shop provided an opportunity to meet with some bikers taking a spell in the sunThe butcher talked about his knife skills and casually flicked an eyeball out of a carcass and they watched it slide down a wall. Horror movie time. Glad I wasn't there. Now the nits had gone a trip to the hairdresser tried to smarten Gregory up and a quick visit to the opticians as the carrots hadn't really helped the eyesight. All these professionals as well as random strangers they met in the street bought into this story and within seconds were part of the narrative and were talking to and concerned for the rabbit.
Photographs and film documented this Quest as well as scripts, journal entries.
The story now had a life and a voice. The manager in the Peugeot garage allowed Gregory to sit in the £25,000 car and talked about using education to the full. He did take the keys back until Gregory had enough money to come back and buy it. People talked about their career paths, told them to take the most out of every opportunity, and were supportive and helpful and my thanks go out to them all.
Eventually they all arrived at the railway station. The station master was so impressed with the idea that he gave them their own train to play with - Rabbit Gregory up front driving and his friend the clown up in the luggage rack. Possibilities of new horizons now he had friends and the community accepted him. So issues of loneliness, isolation, rejection, were discussed and the issue of groups of boys together were discussed . Both adults and the boys mentioned this and how both sides realised that they were more likely to be less judgemental
The project just grew bigger and BIGGER and BIGGER! Ideas flowed and the problem was pulling everything together.
Quest 2.
These boys looked at the issue of team work and needing the support of their friends. They found a set sheep masks in the wonderful trunk and set off for the woods and the hills above Westbury. Cue iconic images of Fools on the Hill. The found new places to explore met interesting people , some worshiping the joys of creation. One very kind man let this set of sheep into his prized vintage car. Very trusting when a set of blind sheep ask if they can come in !! He even invited them back.
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| Where next? |
The feeling the Quests of the two groups are very different. One is fun and comradeship and enjoyment and the other is more of an anthem to that journey where each part of the journey helps the Quester to emerge as a more rounded person drawn into the community.
They have all used digital media to record their images, documentaries and story telling. The Macs have allowed them to start creating their books, films and music. Quest 2 are currently at the Create Studios in Swindon and I am sitting here writing this blog as they create their music tracks. I shall be rocking all the way home with the music ringing in my head. The other boys are down on the Wyvern Theatre stage putting together a short piece about how Gregory's Journey was the Quest of his original owner - Auntie Rene who always wanted to go on stage and only ever made it to the box office to sell tickets. So eventually her dream has been fulfilled through Gregory.
Earlier this morning some of Quest 1 were interviewed by Swindon Radio 105.5 an their interview will be broadcast on Wednesday 13th July between 4pm and 5pm. So listen out for their comments. They advertised this blog and hope to get thousands of posts.
Quest 2
These boys went to the BBC in London last week to take part in a "Cue, Action, Lights" workshop. They were able to meet scriptwriters, actors, directors and producers who commission youth drama on TV. The had to script an episode of E20 - the spin off of Eastenders. They had a great time and learnt just how many people are employed by the BBC in the creative world.
The end of the project is in sight so we await with anticipation the final outcomes.
