joyce on tue 12 aug 08
I was pleased to read John Post's reminders about some of the very
fine jobs in secondary education........ at our high school, teachers
were expected to either have a masters or to be finishing one. The
pay was good, and in some cases better than many higher ed
positions. Medical and retirement benefits were extraordinary.
The art program was pretty much what the teacher and the Art
Department chose to make it. Student shows reflected the
immense talent and hard work expended by all concerned.
Yes, classroom money was short, but the ceramic department was
a natural for raising funds for kilns etc. In fact, that's how I became
acquainted with Geil Kilns. Students sold their work in order to
buy a new kiln. We purchased a new, state-of-the-art
Geil the year before I retired. I knew nothing about pottery, much
less kilns, but I recognized quality when I understood the process.
My kilns now are Geils (as most of you know) and I'm still trying to
throw and/or handbuild with the Free Spirit of the high school
students that I witnessed when "visiting" the classroom yet again for
one more walk through. Pure joy. The teachers were, and are,
phenomenal ....... and Highly Appreciated by the students. A
ceramics teacher usually was voted Teacher of the Year for the
Yearbook.
I don't know how it is where you live, but our biggest Behavior
Problems became meek as lambs when faced with the possibility
of being suspended from art class, much less "kicked out" of
the program altogether.
Joyce
In the Mojave Desert of California U.S.A.
Elizabeth Priddy on wed 13 aug 08
Art class may have been one of the only places in the facilities where=A0th=
e kids you mentioned's particular brand of intelligence was recognised and =
nurtured.
=A0
There are a lot of kids that don't need to be in school past 10th grade.=A0=
They need to be in trade school and it just isn't there for a lot of kids =
and that is why they drop out and get jobs, or on the job training, or trad=
e school, whatever you want to call it.
=A0
Elizabeth Priddy
Beaufort, NC - USA
For information on upcoming workshops in brushpainting or PRESS,
See website:
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7973282@N03/
http://downtothepottershouse.com/NaturalInstincts.html
"...our biggest Behavior
Problems became meek as lambs when faced with the possibility
of being suspended from art class, much less "kicked out" of
the program altogether.
Joyce
In the Mojave Desert of California U.S.A."
=0A=0A=0A
Lee Love on wed 13 aug 08
A friend of ours, Darice, went back to school to put a teaching degree
on top of her Masters. She apprenticed here in Mashiko. Her husband
apprenticed with Shimaoka.
She was really lucky. The person retired here she did her
student teaching and they heired her when she completed her teaching
degree.
I think you have to pursue what you want wholeheartedly. Doors open.
--
Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
http://claycraft.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." --Rumi
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