--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who thought it would be a good idea to…" description: "\"Who thought it would be a good idea to undermine art in the school curriculum? Who thought studying the history of our visual culture was a waste of ti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/cornelia-parker-4217_art_who-thought-it-would-be-a-good-idea-to-u_2232888.jpg" --- # Who thought it would be a good idea to undermine art in… ![“Who thought it would be a good idea to undermine art in the school curriculum? Who thought studying the history of our visual culture was a waste of time? Who thought that only private schools should have that privilege? Was it someone who said we don't need experts?” quote by Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/cornelia-parker-4217_art_who-thought-it-would-be-a-good-idea-to-u_2232888.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/cornelia-parker-4217_art_who-thought-it-would-be-a-good-idea-to-u_2232888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/cornelia-parker-4217_art_who-thought-it-would-be-a-good-idea-to-u_2232888.jpg) > “Who thought it would be a good idea to undermine art in the school curriculum? Who thought studying the history of our visual culture was a waste of time? Who thought that only private schools should have that privilege? Was it someone who said we don't need experts?” [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques the marginalization of visual arts in curricula and the privileging of private schools over public education. **In simple terms:** Art is being undervalued in schools and limited to elite institutions. Key Takeaway Advocate for inclusive, expert‑guided arts education. Themes education art equity public policy privilege Mood concerned determined Type critical advocacy When to use this quote - public school curriculum reform - private school advocacy - arts funding debates - expert involvement in education Key Concepts cultural capital curriculum design social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can public schools integrate visual arts without extra cost? - What role should experts play in shaping curricula? A Different Perspective Implementation may face budget constraints and political opposition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-school/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Curriculum Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curriculum-thought-5030050/) [Education reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-reform/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Private schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-schools/) [Schools Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schools-privilege-5030051/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Undermine Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undermine-art-5030049/) [Waste of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-of-time/) ## Related quotes > [I'm from a working-class background - I had free school meals all my life and then spent six years in art school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/i-m-from-a-working-class-background-i-had-free-school-meals-all-my/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [If you cut art from school, you're going to have a lot more looted shops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/if-you-cut-art-from-school-you-re-going-to-have-a-lot-more-looted/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [I went to a quite macho art school in the 1970s, and while everyone was making hulking big sculptures, I was making things out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/i-went-to-a-quite-macho-art-school-in-the-1970s-and-while-everyone/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [Single-sex private schools, especially in the middle of nowhere on a bleak hill in County Durham - I don't think they make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-deacon/single-sex-private-schools-especially-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-on-a/) [Giles Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-deacon/) > [Anyone who sends their children now to government schools usually does it because they can't afford private education. I went to a government college…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atishi/anyone-who-sends-their-children-now-to-government-schools-usually/) [Atishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atishi/) > [What are called 'public schools' in many of America's wealthy communities aren't really 'public' at all. In effect, they're private schools, whose tuition is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/what-are-called-public-schools-in-many-of-america-s-wealthy/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [The Indian elite send their children to expensive private schools, bypassing the public school system. They have their own infrastructure for water, with sumps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohini-nilekani/the-indian-elite-send-their-children-to-expensive-private-schools/) [Rohini Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohini-nilekani/) > [I have no problems with private schools. I graduated from one and so did my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-clyburn/i-have-no-problems-with-private-schools-i-graduated-from-one-and-so/) [Jim Clyburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-clyburn/) > [In the Catholic schools, they spend much less money than the public schools, and they get amazing results. Private schools spend much more money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/in-the-catholic-schools-they-spend-much-less-money-than-the-public/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [I'm a product of public schools. They are resource-challenged, and when you take those dollars away from public schools and send them to private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/i-m-a-product-of-public-schools-they-are-resource-challenged-and-when/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [The private schools and the independent schools like Oprah's are really doing well because they've got the best of everything but it certainly puts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlayne-hunter-gault/the-private-schools-and-the-independent-schools-like-oprah-s-are/) [Charlayne Hunter-Gault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlayne-hunter-gault/) > [Republicans get a lot of money from big business, but they are not tied to the union dollar. As a result they have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/republicans-get-a-lot-of-money-from-big-business-but-they-are-not/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [If you want a good education, go to private schools. If you can't afford it, tough luck. You can go to the public school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lepage/if-you-want-a-good-education-go-to-private-schools-if-you-can-t/) [Paul LePage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lepage/) > [The way I want to try and end private schools is by making our national education service so good you wouldn't want to waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rayner/the-way-i-want-to-try-and-end-private-schools-is-by-making-our/) [Angela Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rayner/) > [Private schools have been attacking public schools and really I was just a pawn in their game. I speak at schools of all ages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gorilla-zoe/private-schools-have-been-attacking-public-schools-and-really-i-was/) [Gorilla Zoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gorilla-zoe/) ## More by Cornelia Parker > [People often want the big dramatic works, not the smaller quieter ones, but I don't worry about how it fits together anymore; I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/people-often-want-the-big-dramatic-works-not-the-smaller-quieter-ones/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [I like the idea of taking three-dimensional objects and making them two-dimensional so that they look like cartoons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/i-like-the-idea-of-taking-three-dimensional-objects-and-making-them/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [As you get older, things don't work as well. I do Pilates, and that helps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/as-you-get-older-things-don-t-work-as-well-i-do-pilates-and-that-helps/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [The main trouble with this civilized world isn't that we adventure too much, but that we fail to adventure enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/the-main-trouble-with-this-civilized-world-isn-t-that-we-adventure/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [I'm from a working-class background - I had free school meals all my life and then spent six years in art school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/i-m-from-a-working-class-background-i-had-free-school-meals-all-my/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [Violence is part of everybody's life, whether you like or express it or not. My work utilises all the energies that I have, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/violence-is-part-of-everybody-s-life-whether-you-like-or-express-it/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [Dust, in the end, settles on everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/dust-in-the-end-settles-on-everything/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [If I'm not doing the work I want, I usually suffer a psychological allergic reaction and get ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/if-i-m-not-doing-the-work-i-want-i-usually-suffer-a-psychological/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [After leaving college, I was in a show called Sculpture by Women where I was asked to talk about my history of victimisation in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/after-leaving-college-i-was-in-a-show-called-sculpture-by-women-where/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [I think my work is like a spiral: you keep coming back on yourself, but you're at a different place. It's like reading 'Nineteen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/i-think-my-work-is-like-a-spiral-you-keep-coming-back-on-yourself-but/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [I think your subconscious knows far more than your conscious, so I trust it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/i-think-your-subconscious-knows-far-more-than-your-conscious-so-i/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [Paul Auster is my favourite writer, and I'm sure he'd be a very interesting person to share a journey with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/paul-auster-is-my-favourite-writer-and-i-m-sure-he-d-be-a-very/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [Heaven grants the human being who has learned to live alone a deep measure of such rewards that verily would one hesitate to sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/heaven-grants-the-human-being-who-has-learned-to-live-alone-a-deep/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [I was very physical as a child - we lived on a smallholding, and I was always outside making mud pies or building structures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/i-was-very-physical-as-a-child-we-lived-on-a-smallholding-and-i-was/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [As a working-class girl, receiving free school dinners, I studied art history. Having never had the chance to visit art galleries, I devoured the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/as-a-working-class-girl-receiving-free-school-dinners-i-studied-art/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) [Explore all 114 Cornelia Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who thought it would be a good idea to undermine art in the school curriculum? 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