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Lesson Plans


Re: National standards

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
meropi (meropi)
Sun, 1 Nov 1998 15:30:21 -0500

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Dear Sharon,

In response to your inquiry, yes, I do teach in a New York public =
school. Have taught for 11 years, have been Teacher of the Year at my =
school. I am very interested in the comments that you have shared, but =
my opinion on this subject remains the same. I simply do not agree with =
National Assessment in the arts or any other subject, for that matter. =
But beyond our differences of opinion, I find it very uncomfortable that =
you have found it necessary to so STRONGLY react to my opinion. When =
you address me personally, and capitalize your statements, it is taken =
as though you are YELLING. You have a wealth of experience in teaching =
to offer those of us who a mere fledglings in comparison, but if you =
approach a divergent opinion in such an aggressive manner, you lose the =
chance that you might have had to impact them with the wisdom that you =
hold. Please consider this as a friendly tip on how to get along with =
others... I have just recently purchased this computer and was thrilled =
to locate artsednet - Unfortunately, I will now think twice before I put =
forth my opinion on any subject worthy of serious discussion.

Sincerely,

Sydni
-----Original Message-----
From: Sharon Henneborn <heneborn>
To: ArtsEdNet-Talk <artsednet.edu>
Date: Sunday, November 01, 1998 12:23 PM
Subject: National standards
=20
=20
Reatha, Thanks for your ideas in this subject!=20
Sydni, There are a few points I would like to address.
=20
(*The very idea of getting the government involved in our classrooms =
is=20
a serious concern.) =20
~~~Where do you teach? I teach in a public school, which is=20
Government!!! National, State, County, and Local! It was my =
experience=20
that the National Standards came about, not from BIG BROTHER =
GOVERNMENT,=20
but from an army of art teachers (as you put it),"extremely =
dedicated,=20
thoughtful, well educated, and very enthusiastic about the subject =
they=20
teach", who tirelessly LOBBIED to have the ARTS included in the=20
standards. We were IGNORED in the original standards. THERE WAS =
MUCH=20
CELEBRATION WHEN WE WERE FINALLY RECOGNIZED AND INCLUDED IN THE=20
STANDARDS. I mention this because I think you may not have been =
aware=20
of this history.
=20
(*"Are you ready to let others determine what works for you and your =

students?")=20
~~~Again, the army of ART teachers are working to develop the=20
assessment tool. My state has called for ART teachers to serve and =
give=20
input. You can be sure that I have and will put in my 2 cents during =
the=20
development and after the pilot. Of course, the ART test will be =
very=20
difficult to develop..There is much debate....we are already a year=20
behind the original timeline.=20
=20
(* By it's very nature teaching art, making art, stands outside of =
the=20
cognitive learning styles used in other subjects.) =20
~~~In the 36 years I have been teaching in public schools, I have=20
seen an enormous change in teaching methods in all subjects. My =
district=20
has dedicated a generous amount of time and money to train ALL the=20
teachers as new information became available. I can assure you that =
the=20
teachers in my district teach all subjects very much as I do.... =20
Discovery! Discovery! Discovery! Approximately 10 years ago we had =
3=20
greuling years of inservice training in the higher level thinking=20
skills, and more recently in the understanding of multiple =
inteligences. =20
(Before that it was Glasser and Madeline Hunter, etc., etc.) Many=20
teachers already taught this way, but now that everyone does (even =
the=20
jocks), it makes my job much easier. There are many approaches to=20
teaching, and Monkey-see Monkey-do is used to teach all=20
subjects,including the ARTS, I'm sad to say. The same thinking =
skills=20
are needed to produce brilliant discoveries in Math and Science, and =
to=20
explore new ground in literature, human relationships, and the ARTS. =
=20
=20
Having the standards gives me a constant for reference to keep me=20
grounded and to measure a balanced curriculum. We all have =
personal=20
preferences. The standards remind us to plan for the broadest =
possible=20
range of content. They keep me from getting lopsided, and force me =
to=20
continue to explore.
=20
Sharon=20
From NJ
=20
=20

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Dear Sharon,
 
In response to your inquiry, yes, I do teach in a = New York=20 public school.  Have taught for 11 years, have been Teacher of the = Year at=20 my school.  I am very interested in the comments that you have = shared, but=20 my opinion on this subject remains the same.  I simply do not agree = with=20 National Assessment in the arts or any other subject, for that=20 matter.   But beyond our differences of opinion, I find it = very=20 uncomfortable that you have found it necessary to so STRONGLY react to = my=20 opinion.  When you address me personally, and capitalize your = statements,=20 it is taken as though you are YELLING.  You have a wealth of = experience in=20 teaching to offer those of us who a mere fledglings in comparison, but = if you=20 approach a divergent opinion in such an aggressive manner, you lose the = chance=20 that you might have had to impact them with the wisdom that you = hold. =20 Please consider this as a friendly tip on how to get along with = others... =20 I have just recently purchased this computer and was thrilled to locate=20 artsednet - Unfortunately, I will now think twice before I put forth my = opinion=20 on any subject worthy of serious discussion.
 
          &nbs= p;            = ;=20 Sincerely,
 
          &nbs= p;            = ;         =20 Sydni
-----Original = Message-----
From:=20 Sharon Henneborn <heneborn>
To:=20 ArtsEdNet-Talk <artsednet.edu= >
Date:=20 Sunday, November 01, 1998 12:23 PM
Subject: National=20 standards

Reatha,  Thanks for your ideas in = this=20 subject!
Sydni, There are a few points I would like to=20 address.

(*The very idea of getting the government involved = in our=20 classrooms is
a serious concern.) 
~~~Where do you=20 teach?   I teach in a public school, which is =
Government!!!=20 National, State, County, and Local!  It was my experience =
that the=20 National Standards came about, not from BIG BROTHER GOVERNMENT, =
but from=20 an army of art teachers (as you put it),"extremely dedicated,=20
thoughtful, well educated, and very enthusiastic about the = subject they=20
teach", who tirelessly LOBBIED to have the ARTS included in = the=20
standards.  We were IGNORED in the original = standards.  THERE=20 WAS MUCH
CELEBRATION WHEN WE WERE FINALLY RECOGNIZED AND = INCLUDED IN THE=20
STANDARDS.  I mention this because I think you may not have = been=20 aware
of this history.

(*"Are you ready to let = others=20 determine what works for you and your
students?") =
~~~Again, the=20 army of ART teachers are working to develop the
assessment = tool. =20 My state has called for ART teachers to serve and give
input. = You can be=20 sure that I have and will put in my 2 cents during the =
development and=20 after the pilot.  Of course, the ART test will be very =
difficult to=20 develop..There is much debate....we are already a year
behind = the=20 original timeline.

(* By it's very nature teaching art, = making art,=20 stands outside of the
cognitive learning styles used in other=20 subjects.) 
~~~In the 36 years I have been teaching in = public=20 schools, I have
seen an enormous change in teaching methods in = all=20 subjects. My district
has dedicated a generous amount of time = and money=20 to train ALL the
teachers as new information became = available.  I=20 can assure you that the
teachers in my district teach all = subjects very=20 much as I do.... 
Discovery! Discovery! Discovery! =20 Approximately 10 years ago we had 3
greuling years of inservice = training=20 in the higher level thinking
skills, and more recently in the=20 understanding of multiple inteligences.  
(Before that = it was=20 Glasser and Madeline Hunter, etc., etc.) Many
teachers already = taught=20 this way, but now that everyone does (even the
jocks), it makes = my job=20 much easier.  There are many approaches to
teaching, and = Monkey-see=20 Monkey-do is used to teach all
subjects,including the ARTS, I'm = sad to=20 say.  The same thinking skills
are needed to produce = brilliant=20 discoveries in Math and Science, and to
explore new ground in=20 literature, human relationships, and the ARTS.   =20

Having the standards gives me a constant for reference to = keep me=20
grounded and to measure a balanced curriculum.   We = all have=20 personal
preferences.  The standards remind us to plan for = the=20 broadest possible
range of content.  They keep me from = getting=20 lopsided, and force me to
continue to explore.

Sharon =
From=20 NJ

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