View from the balcony: teachers needed

The old Carleton County Courthouse is 175 years old this year, and looking fabulous despite its age. It's amazing to think this stately building was being used as a barn barely 30 years ago.

Perched in the balcony, last night I had the pleasure of listening to three young choirs, conducted by Jen Muir and Will Davidson. Less than ten years ago I was a student of Will's and you probably couldn't have paid people to sing in a high school choir. Now, they line up by the dozens to be in musical productions, join the band, and sing in extra-curricular choirs like Jennifer's. It's very exciting not only to see the numbers but to hear the results.

Luckily, these teachers, along with Sam Arnold and Peter McLaughlin, have been around long enough to see the second generation of their students move into conducting and performing. It's not often we go to events where the generations mingle - church being one of the only exceptions. Now that social institutions are fragmented, we send children to school, young adults to teach English overseas, adults to work, the sick and the elderly out of sight. What a tragedy.

Thankfully, last night this wasn't the case. People of all ages gave and enjoyed performances, and I saw the abundance of talent - perhaps more readily evident here because we lack distracting shopping malls and megaplexes. But, as has always been the case in New Brunswick, we don't have enough teachers to develop the gifts of our young people. Every music teacher I know is maxed to the hilt, running six ways from Sunday.

We need to do a better job convincing skilled teachers in every discipline that they are needed here, and that our students are worth the work. We should retain our capable young adults before they get the impression we're not interested and find opportunities elsewhere.

Looking back on a decade as a community musician, I know mentors influenced my decision to stay here and contribute - because of the training and encouragement they provided, and because of the community's willingness to let me try my hand. If we are serious about keeping young people we must put them to work - frequently and as soon as they are able. Allowing them to lead shows that we value their skills and that there is a place here where they can 'make their mark.'

Young people have an incredible amount of energy and motivation - witness the success of the Valley Young Company and the perpetual motion at Fusion cafe. The question is whether we are content to pass that energy on to other people's benefit, or whether we are creative enough to find outlets here, strengthening our own community in the process.

U.S Trails Cuba in Gender Equality

In a recent United Nations survey comparing gender equality in countries around the world, the United States ranked 27th, above Russia (42nd), China (57th), Brazil (73rd) and India (113th).

But the United States was ranked below Germany (11th), Britain (13th), France (15th), Lesotho (16th), Trinidad and Tobago (19th), South Africa (22nd), Argentina (24th) and Cuba (25th).

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Some surprising numbers, from the supposedly 'freest' country in the world. Looking at the top three countries (Norway, Finland and Sweden) and the bottom three (Saudi Arabia, Chad and Yemen), one can't help but wonder what role religion plays in all of this. The USA is far more religious than most people care to admit - mega churches make mega decisions there, and have a hold over a large part of public opinion.

The Nordic social democracies are among the least religious countries on the planet, whereas in all of the three bottom countries, Islam is the law. Of course, by that standard China should have done better, so it's more likely a measure of how women are viewed in each country - as a threat to be 'contained' at home, or as humans with potential to contribute socially and economically.

On an unrelated note, I read a great essay by Malcolm Gladwell (author of "The Tipping Point"), arguing that it takes, at minimum, 10 000 hours to be good at anything. Which really makes my 90 hour music-semester classes look ridiculous. But considering the hours a young video gamer puts into his art or how many times a baby falls down before it learns to walk, it seems like a good benchmark.

And now, more thoughts on the 'local'

If you were around last weekend, you might have attended the aRiVA launch at Kerry O'Toole's gallery in Gradton. It was a ton of fun, and the turnout surpassed our expectations. The River Valley Arts Alliance (RiVA) was formed with the belief that local people have real artistic contributions to make, and that people will recognize talent when they see it, regardless of whether it comes from cities or small towns. A major part of the evening was dedicated to redressing the idea that New Brunwsickers are an 'artless' people.

Looking at the more-than-twenty local artists on display, and hearing a fabulous band of happy amateurs, aRiVA celebrated to the joy of being "local" - specific to one place (this place) with concerns that outsiders couldn't quite grasp. To wit, here's James Howard Kuntlser's take on "localism" and the role it will play after peak oil. For Carleton County, a place where people have traditionally been self-reliant crafstmen and women, I think it is an encouraging forecast:

What remains for now is a terrible grandiose inertia among people who really ought to know better: our culture leaders. The cutting edge has become a blunt instrument unsuited to fashioning the patterns of the future. Everything we do from now on will have to be finer in scale, quality, and character. Exercises in irony will no longer be appreciated because there will no longer be a premium paid for declaring ourselves to be ridiculous. The localism of the future will not be a matter of fashion. It will be in the food we eat and the air we breathe, and we’d better start paying attention.

The feminist president?

Bill Clinton was widely touted as 'the first black president,' because he owed his election to the large numbers of African-Americans who voted for him. Now the USA has a real 'black president,' and much has been made of this historic victory. It has been an amazing week to watch. But that being said, the gender undercurrent in this election interests me much more.

The primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Obama was a race to convince women that each candidate understood their issues. Then Sarah Palin entered the picture, and the McCain campaign attempted to convince disgruntled Hillary voters that Barack Obama couldn't be trusted. The issue of who women would vote for was raised repeatedly, largely because the Democrats can't win elections without them.

In his victory speech, Obama thanks his male campaign staff (and running mate) but acknowledges the debts he owes to women in his life. In his victory address, he thanked his wife, grandmother, aunts , mentions his daughters and tells the story of a 106-year old black women as an illustration of how far the USA has come as a country.

In the past, wifes are thanked perfunctorily and daughters look cute and smile for the camera. But I can sense that Obama truly respects women for their contributions and that he sees them as people. This is what feminism set out to achieve - political and economic equality of women.

Michelle Obama was Barack's mentor at the Chicago law firm where he interned after Harvard. He repeatedly asked her out and she repeatedly said "no," on the grounds that it was inappropriate. Now they are moving into the White House, with their two daughters, as partners.