He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.
Maxims for Revolutionists (George Bernard Shaw)
The disclosure, last month, of Ontario's Public Sector Salaries changed, forever, the meaning of this line for me. Even though these salaries have been disclosed, yearly, for well over a decade, I had, somehow, missed the implication for artists (of all kinds) until I read this last report.
If you want to see the difference between doing and teaching, read this article from The Toronto Star and, then, check the salaries of art "professors" here.
I remember when the justification for high salaries at educational institutions was that it was the only way to attract top talent, since the individuals in question would be paid more in the private sector. This argument, of course, does not hold true for most visual artists, musicians, dancers, or writers. At least, not in Ontario. So, what gives?
Not long ago, while leafing through a college catalogue, I found the list of mandatory courses for a diploma in creative writing.
"What would someone want that for?" I asked aloud.
"You can teach writing with that," a friend answered.
"Why would anybody want to do that?" I exclaimed.
Now, I know.
