penni stoddart on sun 18 apr 10
I understand the whole argument that Dayton is trying to put across
(although his WAY of doing it seems to have stirred up a storm). It is
important that college level teachers be knowledgeable in all aspects of a
ceramics course or curriculum. My issue is that although someone may have
gone to school and gotten that BFA or MFA and can now apply to teach at the
college level because having those degrees is what is mandatory - CAN they
teach? Not are they ALLOWED to but are the ABLE to????
Case in point.....
My husband was in the automotive industry. After 25 years at the same
factory he was laid off. Three years of low paying menial jobs later he
decided to go back to school and learn a new trade. So he took HVAC (gas
fitter license, furnace, gas fireplace, air conditioner installer etc.). He
went to a trade school. The classes were taught by men in the trade - they
had their accreditation/licenses and several years of work in the field.
This did not make them GOOD TEACHERS! For every new module Randy was
learning he got a new teacher. Some were great - others had no idea HOW to
talk to the students (all adult learners - 20+ years old) or HOW to teach
the material! Just because YOU know how to do it doesn't mean you know how
to teach someone HOW to do it.
I am a teacher. I have been for more then 20 years. I taught learn to skate
and learn to swim lessons as a teenager. Then I got into the day care field
and taught children ages 4months to 12 years old. Then I became an educatio=
n
assistant in the school board and taught literacy and numeracy to children
aged 4 to 14. Now I am a licensed teacher working on the supply list of our
board of ed. hoping to get a contract job. I teach part time at our local
Clay Art Centre - owned and operated by our guild of which I am a member. =
I
have 3 degrees but none of them are in ceramics so could I teach at the
college level? I expect not. But I COULD do it - I could teach. I know how
to AND I know pottery. I've been a potter for more then 14 years now. Yes
there are some aspects surrounding ceramics that I have not done but then I
would not teach those - OR I would research, try it out and learn it myself
before teaching it. That is what good teachers do. They (I) are life long
learners.
Okay - I'm done now.......
Penni Stoddart B.A., E.C.E., M.S.
=3Do) =3Do) =3Do) =3Do) =3Do)
Penni Stoddart
London, Ontario
http://penelopepots.bravehost.com/
Forgive your enemies. It messes with their heads.
No well behaved woman ever made history!
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