This year, I have headed back to school – as a teacher!
I am excited to mentor the next generation of young artists at the elementary level.
As a child, I had robust exposure to art through school and private art classes. We had art class several times a week in middle school and more often with independent study in high school. I also took Saturday morning art classes privately at a local art barn. My high school art teachers, Mrs. Doughty, and Mr. Galbraith, were ‘funtastic’ educators, inspiring me to pursue a life centered on art making.
Thinking back to their influence on my path, I hope to do the same for my students.
Entering the classroom has not been without its challenges. It’s no secret that arts education remains low on the list of priorities for school boards. According to EdSource only 11% of schools in California have a comprehensive arts program.
The biggest challenge for me is that there is no designated art classroom. I have an art cart and travel from room to room to work with each class. The pro is that it’s quite efficient and less disruptive to the teachers’ classroom setups. It also allows the classroom teacher to join in or view the lesson I am conducting for future reference. The con is that I am limited in what I can bring with me, which ties in with a limited schedule for the class. I found that I needed to plan the supplies, the lesson, and the time slot thoroughly before heading off to each class.
So, in spite of underfunding, I am pleased to support the arts with workshop classes. Sponsored by the Children’s Creative Project, a 501C Non-Profit created to fill the void of arts in our communities. The arts are crucial for the mental and emotional health of our children.
The University of Florida has pulled together numerous sources in the following blog post citing the importance and benefits of arts education.
– Improved writing achievement
– Reduced disciplinary infractions
– More student engagement
– Improved college aspirations
– No drop in standardized test scores
I’d love to see an expansion of the arts in schools, bringing art back to full-time practice for all students.
