THE ART AND THE TEACHER

MARILYN R. MALLO

Many teachers are focus and concern only about the intellectual prowess of their leading students, forgetting about students who have the artistic skills. They let them fade into oblivion that encourages them to home their crafts. Such talents are wasting away. They may not be that good in the intellectual department at the artistic department, they’re the best. Michelangelo, Picasso, Rafael, Rembrant, Donatello and Van Gogh were not known to be good in school. But they have taken their place among the greats in history because they were encouraged by their mentors to home their crafts and improve their skills.

Erwin Dayrit, a Pampangueño who was born with bone defects was not really that good in school. He was just an average student who was disclaimed by girls and bullied by his classmates. But his teachers have noticed an artistic genius in him. He encouraged Erwin to gain mastery over his craft and strive for excellence. Now Erwin is in the highest pedestal of his career. He is known in the whole nation as an important visual artist. He is a YouTube sensation and his drawings and paintings command a very high price in the market. A celebrity in his own right, he commands the respect of his peers. He also appeared in local and national TV. He even appeared in his own biography in the series “Magpakailanman”.

Who would ever think that Erwin would reach this far. No one except his teacher who never gave up on him.

— oOo—

The author is Teacher III at Sindalan Elementary School