L. P. Skeen on mon 6 aug 07
Randy,
Please just bite the bullet and go over there and help the woman. The
school does not have any money, so you won't be paid for your time. How do
I know this? I have been through "art teacher school" and I have been an
art teacher.
When folks go through art education programs, they are not taught about
things like how to run a kiln. They are taught how to make a lesson plan
that will meet the various goals set up by the education system. They are
given ideas on maintaining some semblance of discipline. A lot of the time,
they are not even required to take a clay class, and if they are, they don't
get involved with the firing process, so they're clueless as to why the kids
can't put glaze on the bottom of their pots....
To help maintain some control over the situation for yourself, tell her
you're willing to give her (for example) two hours for free, and after that,
you will invoice the school at however much an hour. You can refer her to
my website http://www.living-tree.net for the kiln loading/firing diagram
that I put up there for art teachers a couple of years ago. Refer her to
Vince's book and remind her that she should NOT be sweeping the clay studio
but mopping instead. :) Also, if you get tired of dealing with her, give
her my email address.
Lisa
Randy said:
Some words of wisdom from you folks please.
I have recently had an art teacher that is coming in to the local high
school call me.
She wants me to go over to the school and spend some time explaining the
equipment and how to fire the kiln. She doesn't know a cone 06 from a cone
6.
--
L. P. Skeen, Summerfield NC, USA
http://www.living-tree.net
Get your Clay Lover's Calendar at http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm
A Kettner on mon 6 aug 07
It drives me crazy to think that some of our schools are probably
exposing our children to potentially harmful situations because the
ceramics teacher just doesn't know what they are dealing with. I also
wonder how many "qualified" clay people are not working in our field,
because schools refuse to staff the position with trained people.
I know a guy that was teaching ceramics part time and was let go due
to cut backs, now the painting teacher also teaches ceramics and
admits she knows nothing about it and does not have any desire to
teach a ceramics class. But yet the school administrators just
received a pay raise.
So, although I do believe charity and helping people is a good thing
it just concerns me that a bigger can of worms may be opened when you
give someone the bare basics.
I hear it now "Wow, this manganesse stuff really works well to color
the inside of your cups, oh pass the pizza will ya."
Just some thoughts
Arthur
On 8/6/07, L. P. Skeen wrote:
> Randy,
>
> Please just bite the bullet and go over there and help the woman. The
> school does not have any money, so you won't be paid for your time. How do
> I know this? I have been through "art teacher school" and I have been an
> art teacher.
>
> When folks go through art education programs, they are not taught about
> things like how to run a kiln. They are taught how to make a lesson plan
> that will meet the various goals set up by the education system. They are
> given ideas on maintaining some semblance of discipline. A lot of the time,
> they are not even required to take a clay class, and if they are, they don't
> get involved with the firing process, so they're clueless as to why the kids
> can't put glaze on the bottom of their pots....
>
> To help maintain some control over the situation for yourself, tell her
> you're willing to give her (for example) two hours for free, and after that,
> you will invoice the school at however much an hour. You can refer her to
> my website http://www.living-tree.net for the kiln loading/firing diagram
> that I put up there for art teachers a couple of years ago. Refer her to
> Vince's book and remind her that she should NOT be sweeping the clay studio
> but mopping instead. :) Also, if you get tired of dealing with her, give
> her my email address.
>
> Lisa
>
> Randy said:
>
> Some words of wisdom from you folks please.
>
> I have recently had an art teacher that is coming in to the local high
> school call me.
> She wants me to go over to the school and spend some time explaining the
> equipment and how to fire the kiln. She doesn't know a cone 06 from a cone
> 6.
>
> --
> L. P. Skeen, Summerfield NC, USA
> http://www.living-tree.net
> Get your Clay Lover's Calendar at http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm
>
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>
Steve Dalton on mon 6 aug 07
I remember in High School, my drawing teacher who was also the Track, Golf and Assistant Football Coach taught Ceramics. He had no clue as to what temp they fired to. Just insert cone into the sitter and let her rip. At an open house, my uncle quized him...the teacher had the deer in headlights look.
Steve Dalton
A Kettner wrote:
It drives me crazy to think that some of our schools are probably
exposing our children to potentially harmful situations because the
ceramics teacher just doesn't know what they are dealing with. I also
wonder how many "qualified" clay people are not working in our field,
because schools refuse to staff the position with trained people.
I know a guy that was teaching ceramics part time and was let go due
to cut backs, now the painting teacher also teaches ceramics and
admits she knows nothing about it and does not have any desire to
teach a ceramics class. But yet the school administrators just
received a pay raise.
So, although I do believe charity and helping people is a good thing
it just concerns me that a bigger can of worms may be opened when you
give someone the bare basics.
I hear it now "Wow, this manganesse stuff really works well to color
the inside of your cups, oh pass the pizza will ya."
Just some thoughts
Arthur
Nancy Guido on tue 7 aug 07
I have done a lot with the schools. The Art Resource Director of the particular public school system I worked in applies for grants and brings in several artists - doll maker, puppetier, clay artist (me), book maker, etc. I was paid well for my time. At the end we had a presentation. The grant was something like Drug Preventation through the Arts.
The teachers pay for their supplies out of their own pockets. The schools give them nothing, so I have gone in to the schools to help without being paid just because....
The teachers don't know the difference between high fire clay and low fire clay. They don't know a cone 06 from a cone 6. If you can just coordinate their clay and glazes to the cones they need to fire it that would be helpful. They will be using commercial glazes, advise her what ones to buy. Show her how to use the kiln. Ask if they will allow her to fire or candle the kiln overnight or does she have to come in early to start it and stay until it is finished. Hopefully, it has a kiln sitter. Check to see how the kiln is hooked up and if it is vented properly. Tell her to call you on the phone or email if she has any questions or problems.
The last teacher I helped with a little tile project did everything I told her to do and then emailed me because somehow she thought she needed to stilt the tiles. They warped. I told her to fire them over again without the stilts. I haven't heard back, I think it must have turned out well. Didn't take me more than two minutes of my time. (stilts - I wouldn't have even thought of it).
teachers are over worked and under paid in my book and kids these days have more on their minds than school.
You could advise a book for her, but it may be more than she needs. They won't be making clay or glazes in the public schools and most of the kids are just passing time. Some of the kids in the classes I did were happiest when they were helping me carry the boxes of clay.
nancy g.
p.s. you could suggest the teacher apply for a grant so you could come in and get paid, or maybe a parent group could fund a presentation
Linda White on thu 9 aug 07
Having been a teacher in the Philadelphia School District and in the
Sullivan County School District (extremely rural), I have to put in
my comment on this. Every school district, even every school, has
different policies on allowing outside people into classrooms. I
would go so far as to say every teacher has their individual
boundaries, and that's just the way people are. Just like we find
friends among the people we know, we have to find the schools and
teachers that are willing to work with us and value our knowledge.
It's too bad some of them don't, but it holds for everything people
do. Different people, different priorities and values.
Linda White
LickHaven Pottery
Dushore PA
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