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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To talk DS out of doing GCSE Art

120 replies

UnderABridge · 01/09/2016 15:50

Name changed for this as I'm probably being unreasonable.

DS is about to go into year 9 and this year he has to pick his options, he's dead set on doing Art along with computer science and History.

And although he's good at Art, he isn't brilliant at it. I'd know he struggle with it and honestly I'd rather he put his time and effort into something more substantial, he'll most likely drop Art at A levels anyway.

Would it be unreasonable of me to talk him out it and pick something he'll get a lot more out of and find a lot easier, like PE?

OP posts:

Tunafishandlions · 01/09/2016 15:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lupinlady5 · 01/09/2016 15:53

Art is a wonderful subject. He doesn't have to be brilliant at it; it is life-enhancing. YABU

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 01/09/2016 15:54

God, no, let him make his own decision. You've said he's dead set on doing it so leave well alone.

Yorkieheaven · 01/09/2016 15:56

Er what makes you think he will be talked out of it? He's not a baby. He will just choose. Art is wonderful. My dd doing A level. So what if he drops after GCSE. He might find it therapeutic during the stress of other subjects. He's becoming an adult. Let him decide. Support his choices.

wheresthel1ght · 01/09/2016 15:56

PE is not an easier option! There is a huge element of biology and physiology involved in he course and the exam.

Yabu it is your sons choice what he studies and if you force him to study something he doesn't want to do he is likely to fail as he wont be remotely interested in putting the work in.

EdmundCleverClogs · 01/09/2016 15:57

Sorry, yabu. Better to chose a subject he enjoys and is likely to put effort into, than a 'better' subject he'll just resent doing. Who says he will get more out of PE than art, bit of an odd thing to say . Does it matter if he drops it at A level? Most people drop a lot of subjects by that point....

RochelleGoyle · 01/09/2016 15:59

YABU, sorry.

MrsJayy · 01/09/2016 15:59

School should not be all about the academic and they dont have to get top marks in every exam if he enjoys it what harm is he doing by taking it as a subject he might not get an A or something that is ok.the Arts subjects are good for the mind imo .

WiddlinDiddlin · 01/09/2016 15:59

I had my choices made for me - 20 years ago. It STILL pisses me off.

Whether or not he is brilliant at it, in your opinion, is definitely NOT a good enough reason to discourage him from doing it - he will have been made aware what the work will entail and its his choice to pick that if he wants to.

I only got a C grade for GCSE art, I didn't do any further quals in Art - but who gives a fuck, people pay me £££ for my work now (ok not LOTS of people but enough people!)

Again, my parents were very 'meh, well its ok but you aren't that great at it'.. tough, not the point - at 14 yeah, all I did was draw horses.

At 36 I am selling my work around the world (and no, not drawings of horses either!) - paintings and sculptures in a variety of media.

Pants82 · 01/09/2016 16:01

I wasn't any good at Art but I really loved doing it. That's important in this day and age of stress, stress, stress target grades and results. (I should know I teach in a secondary school).

Original poster

UnderABridge · 01/09/2016 16:01

Wheresthe1ght, PE would be easier for him, he's great at the sciences and I know he'd enjoy leaning about the human anatomy and would get a lot out of it. Whereas Art is not his area at all.

I know IBU, but it's like watching a train getting ready to go off it's track, I know him and I know that 2 months into it and he'd be ready to toss in the towel, it will create more stress then alleviate it.

So why not just save him the trouble and get him to do something he'll enjoy and be good at.

OP posts:

Dozer · 01/09/2016 16:03

It's GcSE not degree level!

Is he THAT bad at it?!

Helenluvsrob · 01/09/2016 16:03

I'm the first to say YANBU !

MrsJayy · 01/09/2016 16:04

Dd did Art as an option she isnt the best drawer but loved art and her teacher said she had an artistic flair dunno what that isa but Dd had a couple of periods a week where she could relax in school.

purplefox · 01/09/2016 16:05

What does he want to do after A Levels?

Original poster

UnderABridge · 01/09/2016 16:07

Dozer, he's perfectly average at art, could probably scrape by with a C if he put a lot of effort into it, 'effort' being the key word, knowing him he'll just give up because it'll be harder then he expected.

OP posts:

BarbarianMum · 01/09/2016 16:07

So what's the worst that could happen? He'll struggle a bit and get a lower grade. And maybe get to know himself better if, as you suggest, he lacks your insight in that department.

00100001 · 01/09/2016 16:07

YABU

"So why not just save him the trouble and get him to do something he'll enjoy and be good at."

Because he'll see it as you being controlling and will probably (at the time) be taking the other subject complain gin about how he didn't want to take it and if you'd let him take Art it would be much better etc etc

You don't have to be great at Art to do it at GCSE.

Helenluvsrob · 01/09/2016 16:07

GCSE art is not about being good at art. Like all exams it's bring good at hitting the targets they want - creating pieces according to a formula to tick boxes. Doing prep work you feel is meaning less and writing waffle to go with it !

Dd1 did art. It sucked the joy out of creating and ate up
All her spare time. Weekends and half terms in the art room etc.

He needs to talk to students in year 11 before taking it on. I wouldn't stop him but o think he needs to hear the downsides from the people there doing it now.

Original poster

UnderABridge · 01/09/2016 16:08

Purple, he wants to go into Computers/Technology as a career, which he's great at now.

OP posts:

EdmundCleverClogs · 01/09/2016 16:09

It's not your place to 'get him' to change his mind though. There's a reason why kids get a few weeks to make sure it's the GCSE they want to do, if he does change his mind leave him to it.

Please don't try and change his mind. My mother guilted me into following all her 'opinions' in terms of my academics. Even my degree, which is now bloody useless, and I really resent it (and her).

Yorkieheaven · 01/09/2016 16:09

If he changes his mind 2 months in them so what? He will learn that he needs to listen to advice and that once you make choices you have consequences

great life lessons learned early and let's face it GCSEs don't matter that much he can drop/retake.

Let him choose and then see what happens.

He may be right or you may be right but it has to be his choice at 16.

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 01/09/2016 16:10

Art isn't always about being good at drawing. Some of the stuff displayed at the Tate looks like total wank. But it's about passion and flair.

When I did GCSE/A Level art there was a good chunk of history involved.

newmumwithquestions · 01/09/2016 16:10

It's not all about the grade. If he's 'dead set' on it I'm guessing he enjoys it... I wouldn't stop him doing something he enjoys.

MissMogwi · 01/09/2016 16:11

YABU it's his choice. Even if he drops it after GCSE, if he enjoys it and makes the most of the course then that's the main thing.

I encouraged my DD to choose some creative options as well as the more traditional. But ultimately the choices were hers.

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