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Lesson Plans


ON CONVOLUTIONS...

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
Bob Beeching (robprod)
Thu, 22 Jul 1999 15:04:14 -0700

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Henry wrote:=20

Let me pull out the beginning of one sentence:

"The majority of students will not become artists . . ."=20

REPLY:=20

The same rationale can easily be applied to reading, writing, and =
arithmetic. Most children will never become performers, authors, or =
mathematicians. Is that any reason for denying them the opportunity to =
learn to dance, act, read a story, write a family biography, or learn to =
make change?=20

The same applies to the visual and performing arts. Who in their right =
mind would consider a child banging on a keyborad with his or her =
elbows, and calling that a creative individual form of expression, or =
allowing a child to decide what a coin is worth, or to play his or her =
version of a game in the midst of of a league match? But that is =
precisely what is going on under the banner of "Art Education." You =
never hear anyone talking about "Reading" or "Arithmetic" or "Sports" =
education - why art?

By letting a child use a "brush" as a scrub mop, and never teaching the =
capabilities of a "round" watercolor brush, denies that child the =
opportunity to enjoy this vehicle to its fullest extent. By allowing =
children to draw with a pencil with a point size of a gnat's eye lash, =
and selecting a sheet of paper regardless of intent or need, and =
spending an inordinate amount of "fill in" time, does little enamour a =
child to visual arts production. Many children are turned off because =
they feel they aren't learning anything pertinent.=20

This whole business of separating "Art Education" from "Art", is beyond =
comprehension to professional artists in the fields of industrial =
design, television, and motion picture production. One would think, by =
some of the statements on this site, that it isn't necessary to learn =
anything about how to produce art, but everything to do with extraneous =
activities that have very little to do with art training.=20

If "Art Education" exists as a discipline separate and apart from the =
discipline of visual arts, why not declare it, and be done with it! Why =
waste time looking, talking, and admiring the accomplishments of =
professional artists. Why not just close the hatch, and continue to =
produce whatever it is that art educators produce with their students?=20

__________________________________________________________________rb=20

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Henry wrote:

Let me pull out the beginning of one sentence:

"The majority = of=20 students will not become artists . . ."

REPLY:

The same rationale can easily be applied to reading, writing, and = arithmetic.=20 Most children will never become performers, authors, or mathematicians. = Is that=20 any reason for denying them the opportunity to learn to dance, act, read = a=20 story, write a family biography, or learn to make change?

The same applies to the visual and performing arts. Who in their = right mind=20 would consider a child banging on a keyborad with his or her elbows, and = calling=20 that a creative individual form of expression, or allowing a child to = decide=20 what a coin is worth, or to play his or her version of a game in the = midst of of=20 a league match? But that is precisely what is going on under the banner = of "Art=20 Education." You never hear anyone talking about "Reading" or = "Arithmetic" or=20 "Sports" education - why art?

By letting a child use a "brush" as a scrub mop, and never teaching = the=20 capabilities of a "round" watercolor brush, denies that child the = opportunity to=20 enjoy this vehicle to its fullest extent. By allowing children to draw = with a=20 pencil with a point size of a gnat's eye lash, and selecting a sheet of = paper=20 regardless of intent or need, and spending an inordinate amount of "fill = in"=20 time, does little enamour a child to visual arts production. Many = children are=20 turned off because they feel they aren't learning anything pertinent. =

This whole business of separating "Art Education" from "Art", is = beyond=20 comprehension to professional artists in the fields of industrial = design,=20 television, and motion picture production. One would think, by some of = the=20 statements on this site, that it isn't necessary to learn anything about = how to=20 produce art, but everything to do with extraneous activities that have = very=20 little to do with art training.

If "Art Education" exists as a discipline separate and apart from the = discipline of visual arts, why not declare it, and be done with it! Why = waste=20 time looking, talking, and admiring the accomplishments of professional = artists.=20 Why not just close the hatch, and continue to produce whatever it is = that art=20 educators produce with their students?

__________________________________________________________________rb =



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