To talk DS out of doing GCSE Art

[UnderABridge]

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?

[imwithspud]

And your bil having an art degree and never having a proper job is irrelevant. That's down to him not the fact that he chose to study art.

[FurryLippedSquid]

Art is about the journey and not the destination ....

I have 3 DCs and 2 have done GCSEs. All three are scientists and we ask them all to pick one fun subject that they will love doing, that is artistic (as they are all quite good at drawing etc.) DD1 wasn't going to do art as she had a busy sporty schedule but we chatted with her and asked her to reconsider and she said that she had been thinking the same thing, that she wanted to do ART. We had told her that she will never get the chance to be taught the techniques ever again and that it was a fabulous life skill that she would get immense joy out of in the years ahead of her.

DS decided to do Design Technology. He had 9 academic subjects alongside. He loved it. He found it broke up the week as it wasn't a 'sitting down' subject and he made new friends in his tech group. As someone who lacked confidence this was an added bonus. He wants to study engineering so this was a great addition to his scientific subjects.

DD2 is choosing her options this year and we will encourage her to do an arty subject too. Hers will either be textiles or art.

DH and I believe that these artistic subjects develop other neural pathways in the brain, the bits of the brain that allow you to be creative, develop problem solving skills, to learn from your mistakes, to go and try something new and a bit different. And as I said at the start we have always said that artistic subjects are not about the destination (the result) but about the journey - what you learn along the way. As a youngster with a developing brain your son will gain so much from doing this subject. The result he gets will be irrelevant, you cannot quantify how much he will be developing a different part of his brain to the bit that academic subjects get to.

[Crazycatlady123]

YABU looking back I wish I made my own decision about my GCSE/A level choices.

Always encourage others to do what they're passionate about. Less likely to end up in a career you hate later.

[SmilingButClueless]

I had very limited choices when I took GCSEs, due to how the national curriculum worked that year and the school's insistence that girls had to do naice subjects Still resent being forced to do a subject that I had no ability or interest in, when it meant that I had to drop something I was good at and that would have been more useful in life.

But it has taught me that one bad GCSE grade Isn't the end of the world.

GCSEs are also a great opportunity for teenagers to practice making decisions. Because the decisions feel important. But in actual fact, there's very little that can't be recovered from (subjects can be retaken / picked up later; equivalents may be available).

[RunningLulu]

I work for a tech company, and we now need 'jack of all trades' to stay competitive with Indian and Chinese companies. Art GCSEs will often provide a good basic knowledge of graphic design or photography, both of which are key skills if you want a career in computing.

[MrsJayy]

Tbf the lad probably isnt that pretentious that he will sit around on his arse waiting on his art to be discovered that is a Bil issue not an gcse in Art issue.

[Magicpaintbrush]

G.C.S.E Art is absolutely not a waste of time. What if your son's interest in computing and technology eventually leads him into Website Design or similar? A G.C.S.E in art would be a great springboard into something like that. It is a great starting place for so many other disciplines - look around your house right now and everything you see there will have been designed by somebody in a creative role, from your wallpaper, to your cereal boxes, to the graphics you watch on your favourite tv programmes - illustrators, designers, etc and there are plenty of areas where art/design and computing can overlap. If your son has a creative streak don't stifle it, he may yet need to discover what art discipline suits him best, it's not all about painting and drawing. He may really regret it if he doesn't do it. Having a varied range of g.c.s.e subjects will make him well rounded.

[Mia1415]

YABVU! I'm not very good at drawing but did art GCSE and really enjoyed it (came out with a B).

It sounds like he has a good balance of subjects. He can still go on and do computers etc in the future.

[baringan]

I thought dd was average at best at Art and tried (not very hard it must be said) to dissuade her. She ended up getting an A* and I was staggered at the amount of self motivation she showed! let him take it.

[IAmNotAMindReader]

Yabu. Ds2 did gcse art. He is now doing his masters in computer science. You wouldnt think theyd fit together but they do.

[fascicle]

Is he aware of the syllabus/workload and has he talked to an art teacher or students who have done Art at GCSE level? I'd leave him to decide, but encourage him to make an informed decision. As others have said, the workload is heavy (and sustained) in comparison to other subjects.

[hazell42]

GCSE art hasn't got much to do with actual drawing ability. My daughter is doing it atm and there is a lot of art history and art appreciation in there too. You are being a snob. Its his life. If you make him do something he doesn't want to do he will resent you. And he might just do it for his degree to spite you.

[ElleDubloo]

YABU!

I'm a doctor, and I've always wanted to be a doctor, I've always been good at the sciences, and went on to do all sciences/maths at A level. But at GCSE I wanted to do Art and it was absolutely wonderful. It was an interest of mine, and it made me more interesting than if I'd studied only academic subjects. I met a different cohort of people than I'd otherwise have mixed with. I learnt about artists and movements and history. It enhanced my life, and it made me more multi-dimensional and confident.

Absolutely disagree that it's a weak subject. And you don't need to know how to draw, but you do need to be creative and imaginative and thoughtful. Would strongly recommend it if your DS really wants to do it!

[RavenclawRemedials]

My DD is doing Fine Art GCSE instead of German. I struggled with the idea of her giving up a foreign language but figured it would be better for her to bail out now rather than spend two years struggling miserably with a subject she has little ability at. Looking at her achievement grades for Art, I'd say it's a good move.

I wish I 'd had a chance to do Art. It would have lightened up my terribly serious academic subject choices at O-level.

[DarlingCoffee]

Please let him make his own choices. My mum dissuaded me from taking Art A-Level in favour of a more practical subject and I still wonder what might have been and I'm going on 40 now!

[SunnyBanker]

I took GCSE Art. I am not arty at all - can't draw for toffee. It didn't matter in the slightest as the GCSE was 100% coursework based and the points were based on whether you had done everything - drawn a charcoal face portrait, used at least 6 different mediums etc etc.

I got an A at GCSE - the kids who were actually arty got an A*.

[Susiesue61]

Ds1 just did GCSE music. He plays piano and we thought it would be nice to do a less academic subject. He was in a tiny class of 9 which he really liked, and he got a B so it was worth it! He's now stopped his piano lessons but I think it was a better option thanPE , and he's mixed with some different lads

[Lancelottie]

DarlingCoffee - do art A-level now! I just did. Great distraction from the kids' exams to be doing one yourself.

[allowlsthinkalot]

"A train ready to go off its track"

• seriously? ?! The worst that can happen is he fails a GCSE.

[RhodaBorrocks]

GCSE art is hardly the end of the world! YABU.

My art teachers weren't thrilled by me taking GCSE art because I wasn't one of the shining stars who could sit down and replicate the Sunflowers, but I got the last laugh when I passed with flying colours because they left me to it and I discovered I was really fucking good at sculpture and fibre arts. Begged me to do A Level. I told them to fuck off.

I still studied Neuroscience despite the art GCSE at University. I can crochet an anatomically correct brain these days if I want to.

TBH art lessons were a nice break from the academia of the other classes. Even now after a hard day I will get out my sewing machine or pick up my knitting needles. DS goes to an extracurricular art club which I chose precisely because it's ethos is that anything created is art and you don't have to be 'good' as long as you're expressing yourself and feeling good.

Have my first 'get a grip' and let your DS express himself too.