It is improper to kill a child's dream

One day, I received a text message from the school my son attends informing me he had been nominated for an environmental art award at the Giraffe Centre.

He had mentioned the nature of his drawing when he submitted it for the competition in the last quarter of 2014.

The idea of him entering it was mooted when I suggested to his art teacher that it would be a brilliant idea for the art students to exercise their skills somewhere else.

My son has always shown his artistic nature from the moment he could hold a pencil.

He would scribble, draw and colour with ease.

I took a keen interest in his artistic interests, and insisted that proper art classes be taught at the school. Initially there was resistance, but I persisted and art classes were incorporated into their weekly activities.

Of course he comes alive during these classes. He would draw during his spare time on any “empty” space and at some point, did a mural on one of the school walls.

One day, during their private study time, his class teacher asked them to make a drawing from observation.

For this assignment, my son used a felt pen, and the teacher was furious and wanted to tear it.

He asked the teacher not to to but promised to complete the assignment using a pencil.

She said he was rude, and she hit him on his head with his ruler, then asked: “Huyu anafikiri kuchora itampeleka mahali! You will amount to nothing by drawing.”

She tore the paper. My son was heartbroken. When he told me about it, I was hurt, and remembered how my music teacher in primary school killed my love for music by her comments.

She said I cannot sing and that I will never sing. My confidence plummeted, and even though I love to sing, most often, I hum, sing in the shower or sing when I am alone.

I told my son my story, and explained that perhaps because of the teacher’s background, she does not see how one can earn a living out of art.

I encouraged him to keep drawing, ignore the naysayers and immerse himself fully in his interests. I even got someone to help him, an artist who earns a living from his art, and whose pieces are exhibited outside Kenya.

A year later, I got the text message about his award, and we were both excited.

It was a cue for me to remind the teacher who had no faith in him that it does not cost much to harness, and nurture a child’s talent, and that it is improper to kill someone’s dream.