True learning and true education forces us to take long-term approaches. To realise and accept that learning is long haul. Results do not come over night, but when they do, the long-term results are so much greater than simply the sum of their parts (which is the classic short-term strategy).
Any change cannot occur without recognition of the need to change (too many Dr. Phil episodes have told us this). True change and true cultural change cannot occur unless it affects us or the group at an emotional level. Change is about learning and learning occurs best when it is attached to an emotion.
It is the shy kids who are easy to forget. They can be ushered into the corner by the teacher/director or the other actors/students and overlooked because they generally won't complain. They will accept the status quo because they won't want to rock the boat. Their creative skills enable them to show acceptance and contrition when faced with missing out on opportunities.
Oracy is much more that just speaking fluently. It is confidence in front of people (be they large groups or small). It is eloquently articulating points of view without resorting to vulgar language or insults. It is the skill of bring people together. It is an art that can be a vehicle of cultural change.
In industries or vocations where creativity or free thinking seems like a fading star in a galaxy far, far away, we can find artists implementing science to demonstrate the commonalities between groups.
One of the greatest things that our current interconnectivity provides us with, is an exposure to more culture, more groups, more businesses, more industries and an opening of the realisation of possibilities that we might be more alike than our current world view permits
One of the most unfortunate things about quality education is that you can never see the benefits straight away.
