
Within the past few years, there has been a major social push for education reform within the United States. Since the advancement of technology and social-political ideals, many students have felt abandoned by the education system. Parents, students, and teachers feel as if education has not kept up to meet the demands of students. Recent scientific studies have proven this to be true- that the mind of every child is different and should be accommodated in specific ways. In addition, while education’s mission is to prepare students for the future, they are not advancing the requirements of success. Students are told as children to reach for the sky. Yet, above them is nothing more than a roof labeled, “studying.” With only one roof-top, students are very limited to what goals they can reach towards. This has many people across the United States pushing for reformation. Images like the one pictured above are beginning to make their way into more newspapers and computer screens across both America and the world. In this image, the artist portrays the dysfunction of the education system through the use of color, organization, shape, and text. 

To begin, the use of color emphasizes the lack of creativity in the education system. Paired against a white background, the building, clothing, and faces are masked in a dull-grey shade. With no color present, there is a lack of visual aid to engage the eye. Emotions are non-existent as the viewer stares at a grey building with grey figures paired against a white background. Reminded of a depressing snowy day, the viewer has nothing to gaze upon to engage the senses. Instead, the viewer forced to stare emotionless at a piece of art work. Through this, the artist encourages a sense of logic instead of creativity. Just as the education system discourages students from engaging the senses, the artist discourages the viewer from engaging their emotions. This simple statement of not using color brings the viewer into the seat of those who are a part of the system. Through this, it traps the viewers in the same world the subjects of the piece are trapped in. However, while the environment, clothes, and faces lack color, one face- the one of the student- is masked in a distinct red. Using red, the artist immediately draws the viewer’s eye towards the center of the work where the viewer can instantly see the entire picture. With the student, the most important subject of the piece, placed in the center, the viewer quickly sees the overall picture. On top of that, the author uses red to clearly and distinctly portray the burden the student is carrying. Bound under the weight of the educational system, the student struggles to keep the roof lifted up on his shoulders. With his heart pounding, his blood pressure rising, the student works tediously to prevent the roof from collapsing upon the other two subjects. Meanwhile, the grey and emotionless subjects sit back, not even realizing the roof that is about to fall upon them. On the contrary, it is important to note that red is a symbol of strength. Used by politicians all across America, red is induces a statement of superiority. Through this, it can be argued the drawer is trying to make a statement about the student’s position within the system. While the student is acting as the slave, being forced to maintain the weight of the roof, he is also acting as a leader. The most distinctive quality of a leader is their willingness to take the weight of any given situation. While the student is being oppressed, it is likely that a leader is rising out of the unfortunate being. This is to say one day, the student will be the leader of the education system and will work to improve it. 

Secondly, the use of organization displays to the viewer the simple fact that the student is holding all of the weight on his own. From the first glance, it is apparent that the education system resembles an ancient style building. With teachers, students, universities acting as both the foundation and the pillars, the roof top is supposed to be supported by all three beings working together. Viewers understand that through the use of pillars, buildings such as the Pantheon and Parthenon have battled many days and nights, staying up for hundreds of years. However, what the viewers see is quite the opposite. Instead of the three separate entities working together to support the weight of the system, the weight of the roof has been placed upon the shoulder of the student who stands in the center. By placing the student in the center, the artist hints at the fact the educational system should revolve around the student. Students should be the one who the system focuses on. However, students are expected to carry the weight of the system while teachers cross their legs and sleep, never reaching to help the students simply because they don’t have to. After all, having come out of the same system, teachers do not know any better- they do not know how to help students because they were never helped. Teachers do not know how to reach the heart of the students because their hearts were never reached. All of this is because at one point in time, teachers were in the same spots as students- carrying the weight while having money stolen from their pocket. Next, while the teachers sleep and the students work tediously, universities sit happily, pulling dollars out of the students’ pockets. Instead of helping students maintain the weight of the education system, universities sit on the sideline. Within a functional education system, the university would stand in the center. There would be no roof as the teachers and students would look up towards the sky instead of limit. However, as the artist portrays, the education system is plagued with faults. Through this specific organization, the viewer can easily predict the building will not stand for long. As a matter of fact, the artist suggests it should have fallen a long time ago since the students carry all of the weight on their own. 

Lastly, through text, the artist conveys the importance of his message. Without the words “teacher,” “student,” “university,” and “study,” the viewer would not understand the roles of each piece within the image. Though the words lack complexity, they thoroughly fulfill their role clearly, describing to the viewer the symbolism of each item. Focusing on the rooftop, the artist displays a particular argument through his words. As children, we are taught to reach towards the sky to achieve our dreams, goals, and ambitions. Instead of the rooftop being labeled as these though, the artist simply labels it “study.” Over the last few decades, the education system has thrown out the idea of reaching towards the sky. Instead, they have put a cap on education and have deemed the roof to be labeled “studying.” Under this system, the student has absolutely nothing to shoot for. The bar has been set and it has been set low- study. With nothing hopeful to shoot for, students are forced to subdue their creative thoughts, throw away their goals, and carry the burden of studying.

Through the use of color, shape, and text, the artist depicts the overbearing weight of the modern-day education system. With a lack of color, the picture first appears bland and does not appeal to the senses. Using shape and text, the artist then formats the picture into what it represents- a student oppressed by the weight of the education system. With the student in the center, it is evident the system should focus around their needs. However, the teacher and the university sit on the sidelines, not providing the support needed to carry the weight. In today’s education system, students feel abandoned by the role models they were always told would assist them along the way. Students feel as if their dreams are being crushed because instead of looking up towards the sky, they are looking up at “studying.” Such oppressions are making students feel as if the system has not kept up to meet their needs. As a result, many images like the ones pictured above are surfacing across the United States as students begin pushing for reformation. 
