>Why is it that it is so terribly politically incorrect to suggest that some
>children have tremendous difficulty drawing?
It irks me to think that we might be inclined to follow popular "truisms" or
pc... we are artists. We are makers of art who also teach. Surely we are the
last bastion of believers in the individual... and by gosh, most people
can't draw "realistically" at ages 6- 10. Developmentally, first throught
5th graders shouldn't be expected to draw "realistically." Perception in a
ten year old is on the cusp of adult interpretation, how then can we expect
an adult assessment of reality? Our expectations must span a wider range of
results than more rigid disciplines. Your ability as a teacher should not be
measured by the output of your students. I've got students (K-6)who draw
below their developmental level... but they are wonderful mechanics or
poets. Half of my choir can't sing on key... but the sound they make is
beautiful to me. Elementary school is where we are introduced to a wide
array of ideas, formulae, standards and interpretations. We must make art as
meaningful as possible without demanding that they draw to our adult
expectations. If this doesn't seem rigid enough, please tell me what end we
achieve when we "standardize" drawing. Hope this answers some of your
questions. Peter
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