Thank you everyone for your comments concerning this topic!
We have a very strong fine arts dept. at our school! I have high expectations in each of my classes from the very beginning art students to the most advanced. This information is shared with each class on the first day of class and as a reminder throughout the entire term.
Our student work is shown several times throughout the year. Our elementary schools showcase our h.s. students work once a year. We have an art show at our local mall where all the community and the surrounding area residents can view the work and appreciate the talents and efforts of our young people. We have a huge art show in May that is held in our gymnasium for two days. All students, faculty and the public are invited to an "open house" on the evening of the first day. We serve cookies and punch and in the past have had members of our h.s. band perform as parents, brothers and sisters, and the general community come and look at all the fine work. Also at this May show, a different person each year (one from our community who is somehow involved in fine arts) judges the entire show. It takes this person FIVE HOURS to judge all the work!!! Blue, red and white, plus "honorable mention" ribbons are awarded in each of many, many categories. This is a BIG event and our local newspaper always comes to take pictures!
The work shown is top-notch. If you appreciate Ken Schwab's students work, then you'd be just as thrilled with what you see at our show! This is beautiful work! Each year an award called the "Principle's Award" is given to an art piece that our principle personally likes. There is also the "Superintendent's Award". That award is chosen, obviously, by our superintendent. The piece is taken to and displayed (with all the other pieces that have been chosen throughout the years) at the District Office and the recipient is awarded $50.
I look forward to these events! It is a wonderful opportunity for the community to see that there are high schoolers in our school who are exceptionally talented! It is POSITIVE press and reflects the fact that there are many exceptions to the common notion our society has that most teenagers are drug users and hopeless individuals!
Yes, it is a ton of work for us teachers. Each year I spend many, many hours late at night after a full day at school, matting and cutting,mounting and hanging work. But, it is a great feeling to see the excitement and pride in a student's eyes when he/she sees their work displayed for all to see and admire!
We also have an art club that is very active at school. This group draws, sometimes, over 100 students! Unlike most high schools, our art club members also find alot of pleasure in coming up with original ideas for both Homecoming and Sweetheart Swirl dances. (I know there are some art clubs that would NEVER consider decorating for a dance). These are not the decorations that can be bought from a catalog...these are backdrops and centerpieces that are built and constructed from scratch. And, the results are fantastic! "Artte Club" members participate in other activities and community events throughout the school year.
As most of you will agree, I'm sure, we are probably the least understood and least appreciated of all kinds of teachers. But, as we've said before in correspondence...we do what we do................FOR THE KIDS!
Thanks again for all your comments!
