Becky,
I was trying to make a point. I totally agree with
walking that line. I always told my students to pick and
choose their battles carefully. Still they need to understand
the role of an artist in society. I exposed them to artists
like Kathe Kollwitz to demonstrate the artist as a social
critic. I taught Middle School and we had to discuss the
difference between protest and the crap many of them might
prefer to draw. I censored their choices. (No smokes, drugs,
liquor, gang signs, etc.) If you have a student with strong
convictions they should be directed to express it in a productive
manner. Of course art as protest and social comment is much
more appropriate for the High School curriculum. Art that makes
a statement should be part of every successful senior portfolio.
Woody
Rebecca Burch wrote:
> Art teachers are all about walking the line between "safe" and "in
> your face." We have to protect our programs, but at the same time, I
> think we're all encouraging students to walk that line, too (and go
> over it, if the feeling is there and it's worth any fallout.) At
> least, we ought to be. That's what art is.