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Lesson Plans


Re: What Do YOU Do???

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
RWilk85411
Sat, 2 Jan 1999 08:37:46 EST

Perhaps I did not phrase my response very well. I was not addressing a lack of
choice in grading my students learning progress. I am an advocate of
assessment in the arts.
There is much more to grade in the study of art than the students' aesthetics
or creativity. And indeed it would be absurd to grade either of those.
However, it is quite possible to evaluate a students acquired knowledge of
design principles, technique, theory, history, etc. And if we do not give them
substantive feedback on their progress, how are they ever going to realize
that they can create good art without being another Picasso or Van Gogh, that
their work doesn't have to look like everyone else's, and that they understand
the roots of the art work of today.

I am not preaching testing/grading for the purpose of justification. However,
as long as there are those who do not understand that there is more to
teaching art than allowing students freedom of expression with materials and
processes they do not understand and who proclaim loudly that it is not
possible or is even unkind to grade students art learning progress, we will
continue to be the underfunded, overworked, under respected, dumping grounds
of the school.

I have a choice in grading. I choose to do so. I teach a body of knowledge
that can be assessed. My students have a choice about how they express
themselves with that knowledge and I would never evaluate that choice. It
takes a little more effort to teach art, but my students deserve no less. And
I enjoy teaching what I know.

Reatha