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Lesson Plans


Re: Standard practices-unfinished work, regular projects going home-to mount or no ?

From: Judy Nagel (jdnag)
Date: Thu Aug 17 2000 - 07:27:20 PDT

  • Next message: Marcy Bogdanich: "demonstrations"

    Christine, First of all, this teacher you reference does not have the
    authority to dictate to you. If you report directly to the principal, that
    is the only person who can make such a request. Secondly, the kind of
    supplies you will need will require an increase in your budget. I would
    keep your principal updated and consistently reference the potential need.
    Thirdly, don't you have a curriculum guide that stresses elements and
    principles, etc? Fourthly, tell the guy to go take a flying leap in a bean
    blower! Have a good year. Judy
    jnagel
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: <Casart9197>
    To: ArtsEdNet Talk <artsednet>
    Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2000 12:20 AM
    Subject: Standard practices-unfinished work, regular projects going home-to
    mount or no ?

    > I am an elementary art teacher k-6, and I also teach grade 9 studio in
    art. .
    > I am writing to find out what the "common parctice" is among my peers. I
    > have been at my job now going into my 7th year. A new teacher who just got
    > tenure got in my face and started demanding certain things:
    > that I create projects around thanksgiving, xmas, easter, moms and dads
    days
    > (I can do these however I wish so they are not "cookie cutter". )
    > What really offended me was that he said he would "not accept" my sending
    > students work home with them if it was not complete. I am split between 2
    > buildings. The ele. kids get 1x a week, 50 minutes. I feel strongly that
    they
    > need to learn time management skills, and have tried unsuccessfully to
    > remediate in the past because teachers don't want to give them time to go
    > finish art projects when they are already behind academically. I am also
    > supposd to be juggling technology alongside studio work, and I only have 1
    > computer, and this greenhorn is telling me I HAVE to give them the chance
    to
    > finish. -that they may have to "only do part of the curriculum if they're
    > slow" - basically to run 2 projects at the same time.
    > MORE IMPORTANTLY he is insisting that I "frame " or "mat" these projects
    for
    > these occasions. I told him he had no idea how expensive and time
    consuming
    > that would be, that it is not standard practice among my colleagues in our
    > district, and that it has generally been accepted that the work gets
    matted
    > for the annual art show or mounted for it. Otherwise things go home "as
    is"
    > minus framing. He is insisting that if I don't do this he will" report it"
    to
    > my principal, the same thing with the kids not finishing, that I should
    have
    > to write a note to each one's parents explaining why they didn't finish.
    > My principal is supportive of me and understands my reasons for doing
    things
    > how I do, I always get "exceeds expectation "reviews when observed from
    her
    > and my dept. chair.
    > I am thinking, fine, have the kids mount their work(I'll show them how )
    or
    > try to accomodate with a "quickie" mounting on colored paper. I refuse to
    > spend my $$ on this, this is not college, it's elementary school. I feel
    if
    > he wants to push it, then let him go to the boss; I'm sure she'll put him
    in
    > his place.
    > Moral support and your policies regarding matting or mounting on non art
    show
    > work going home PLEASE !!!
    > ps- when considering this request as a single one, it doesn't seem
    > unreasonable, but when you multiply it by all the other teachers at all
    the
    > other grade levels, instead of developing new lessons and references for
    them
    > and being able to work towards my art show I'm gonna be matting and
    mounting
    > stuff.....I believe it's ok for finished drawing or painting to go home
    "asis
    > " w/o frame. This guy is totally hung up on this.
    > He's also bought into the school clique led by the music teacher who has
    been
    > trying to discredit my professionalism and work ethic for the last 7
    years,
    > and she is finally retiring at the end of this year. I'm talking all out
    lies
    > about what I do with my time, and character assassination here. My boss is
    > also aware of this and keeps telling me, hold on, it's only one more
    > year......
    > I really could use you folk's support and experience with this, because I
    > know the issue will be raised again, and I can be armed for further
    > discussion from this group's responses.
    > Thanks much ,
    > Christine in Binghamton NY
    >
    > --- 

    ---

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