> Dear Evil Teacher,
> "Her daughter had
> twisted things to make me an evil
> teacher. Which yes, I can be. But I am
> not there to make them feel better about
> themselves. I am there to teach them
> visual skills. It is a perk if we have
> a lot of fun along the way."
>
Woody said it first
but, as a lurker more than a participant on this list, I felt compelled to
respond to this post. Every day, on this list, there are tens of examples
of art teachers putting themselves out, sacrificing, doing everything they
can, to MAKE STUDENTS FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES.
Evil teacher -
I hope, hope, that in your angst, you said something you didn't really mean.
If, when I was in elementary school, if my special talent hadn't been
recognized and nurtured, by teachers who knew that's what made me feel good
about myself, I don't know where I'd be today. I got my skills in college or
by my own means, but the encouragement I got along the way-- that is what
was important.
Perhaps, you shouldn't take yourself so seriously.
Something I'm grappling with --- with all the standards and assessments and
whatever
we have lost the fun in art
in our attempt to meet all the initiatives
we are loosing the idea that the product, the product that the child is so
proud of, no matter how skilled, is the most important thing.
