For this particular post, we were asked to describe memories from a secondary (middle or high school) art classroom. My mind, of course, first went back to my own high school art class, but then I remembered an observational study I did in a separate art classroom and felt an overwhelming need to mention them both.
Why?
Because the lessons I learned in these classrooms were very different.
In my high school, we had one teacher who taught all the art classes. She was a very spunky woman who I often thought of as a peace-loving hippie (and I mean this with the utmost love). You know, that art crazy first vision you get of what an artist looks like; sounds like; acts like? The ones who dress in long colorful skirts, listen to 60's music, are complete vegetarians, and when any disruption happens you will probably here the line, "why can't we all just get along, man?" Yeah. That was her. Don't get me wrong, I loved my art teacher! She reminded me that not all people had to follow a specific pattern. People could be different, creative, boundless; and that was okay. Her projects were always fun, and she seemed dedicated to making sure we had a lot of different experiences in the art world. We did things like go to the Renaissance festival, visit museums and art colleges, participate in competitions, and so on. While I think there were plenty of kids in her class who didn't take it too seriously, I have always thought of her as my inspiration in becoming an art teacher.
In contrast, the classroom I visited while observing.... Well.... I'm just gonna be honest... IT WAS AWFUL! The teacher was very kind, the classroom was set up nicely, and the students in it seemed content, but I couldn't stand it. The whole 32 hours I spent there, I watched them do pretty much the same thing. Day after day.... Which mostly consisted of.. well... nothing. They teacher was a very laid back woman who would advise students to work on art work, but would never really give assignments. The class was an advanced ceramics class, but, when I did see art work, it was mostly kids doodling in a sketch book. She even approached me one day to ask if I knew how to use the potters wheel. When I said yes, she asked me if I could teach the students how. Now PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't think I'm trying to bash her. She really was a lovely woman, I just felt for an advanced ceramics class, they should be doing advanced ceramics...
All in all, I was really happy to have had both experiences. I truly believe they have helped me decided how I want to run my future classes and who I want to be.
Why?
Because the lessons I learned in these classrooms were very different.
In my high school, we had one teacher who taught all the art classes. She was a very spunky woman who I often thought of as a peace-loving hippie (and I mean this with the utmost love). You know, that art crazy first vision you get of what an artist looks like; sounds like; acts like? The ones who dress in long colorful skirts, listen to 60's music, are complete vegetarians, and when any disruption happens you will probably here the line, "why can't we all just get along, man?" Yeah. That was her. Don't get me wrong, I loved my art teacher! She reminded me that not all people had to follow a specific pattern. People could be different, creative, boundless; and that was okay. Her projects were always fun, and she seemed dedicated to making sure we had a lot of different experiences in the art world. We did things like go to the Renaissance festival, visit museums and art colleges, participate in competitions, and so on. While I think there were plenty of kids in her class who didn't take it too seriously, I have always thought of her as my inspiration in becoming an art teacher.
In contrast, the classroom I visited while observing.... Well.... I'm just gonna be honest... IT WAS AWFUL! The teacher was very kind, the classroom was set up nicely, and the students in it seemed content, but I couldn't stand it. The whole 32 hours I spent there, I watched them do pretty much the same thing. Day after day.... Which mostly consisted of.. well... nothing. They teacher was a very laid back woman who would advise students to work on art work, but would never really give assignments. The class was an advanced ceramics class, but, when I did see art work, it was mostly kids doodling in a sketch book. She even approached me one day to ask if I knew how to use the potters wheel. When I said yes, she asked me if I could teach the students how. Now PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't think I'm trying to bash her. She really was a lovely woman, I just felt for an advanced ceramics class, they should be doing advanced ceramics...
All in all, I was really happy to have had both experiences. I truly believe they have helped me decided how I want to run my future classes and who I want to be.