Gayle Bair on tue 15 aug 00
Snip>
We may make jokes about knives at school, but let me warn you that the
schools, some in particular, take this VERY seriously - to extreme
interpretations, in some cases! I just read the disciplinary handbook for
our local school system last night (a homework requirement for my kids to
make me do it), and in my state, it is a FELONY for ANYONE to bring a
"weapon" into a school or ONTO SCHOOL PROPERTY
Amy,
Frankly I am surprised that needle tools are
still allowed in schools!
In 1996 I was a school board director in Pennsylvania.
I volunteered and spent 100's of hours
on the discipline committee.
The Discipline code was rewritten and
very stringent. However the administrators
were so paranoid about weapons
they would suspend kindergartners
who brought in water guns that were obviously toys.
These kids and parents were totally traumatized
by the principals who decided it was better to
be literal than smart.
We spent hours on these unnecessary hearings
and finally threw them back on the principal
with stern warning to use their heads.
Yet, the administrators/police/judge let
3 kids off who terrorized the entire marching
band when they drove through the school
parking lot where the band
was practicing. They narrowly missed
hitting band members and pointed a gun at
several of the boys.
The feeble excuse...."It was a harmonica not a
gun".... HA! The father of one of the boys was
a known hooligan with political ties.
These same people let off High school kids
who violated behavior to an extreme
on a class trip because they were athletes.
Now regarding tools in school. There should be
a PTA/PTO volunteer list of parents.
Many of them have spent years at your school
and know the ropes. I suggest you talk to them
and find out what is the best way to raise money
for your classes.
I ran a Santa's Workshop where we made record
amounts of money and donated it to various departments.
We had raffles, sold pizza, cup cakes, cookies, drinks
mugs filled with candy, face painting and pictures
with Santa. We decorated the walls with art the kids
made and had an Art show too. The Music department
provided most of the musical entertainment. We involved
parents, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and local businesses.
It took myself and another mother months of preparation.
We started in August! It was a labor of love! The kids
loved it, the parents loved it and we made over $1800
in 2 days. It was split between Music, Art and Gym Depts.
Every school has a core group of parents that are willing
to do things like this, you just have to connect with them.
Good luck,
Gayle Bair-Now if I could only run my pottery sales like
I ran Santa's workshop I'd be doing a bit of ok!
Linda Christen on tue 15 aug 00
I'm sorry, I've forgotten who originally posted with the tools request...
>Snip>
>
>We may make jokes about knives at school, but let me warn you that the
>schools, some in particular, take this VERY seriously - to extreme
>interpretations, in some cases! I just read the disciplinary handbook for
>our local school system last night (a homework requirement for my kids to
>make me do it), and in my state, it is a FELONY for ANYONE to bring a
>"weapon" into a school or ONTO SCHOOL PROPERTY
>>Amy,
>
>Frankly I am surprised that needle tools are
>still allowed in schools!
>
Yes, schools today are very careful with the interpretation of weapons in
school.
The pottery tools available in my sons art class (6th grade, 11 & 12 year
olds)
are plastic sculpting tools. Very difficult to use for anything real. The
teacher has one set of real pottery tools which kids can borrow on an
individual basis. She also has x-acto knives which can be signed out for a
class period. There have been no problems with these tools that I've been
aware of.
>Now regarding tools in school. There should be
>a PTA/PTO volunteer list of parents.
>Many of them have spent years at your school
>and know the ropes. I suggest you talk to them
>and find out what is the best way to raise money
>for your classes.
Our schools have a parent run organization: ArtLink, we span grades K-12
(5-18
year olds) and our focus is to assist teachers who are trying to incorporate
the arts into their regular curriculum. We just got started 5 years ago
with a
system wide art exhibit. Every child in K-12 had at least 2 pieces of art
work
from the year on exhibit!!! We were open from Friday evening (with the
Madrigals singing in the foyer) through Sunday afternoon. It was a huge
volunteer job to organize including 4 weeks of evening matting parties and
hanging the works all day Friday and taking down for a couple hours Sunday
afternoon. We handed out a program which listed corporate donations and
families that donated funds to ArtLink for the show and our other programs.
(In addition to direct donations from stores, companies and families we run a
miniature golf station at our town festival and have run two semi-formal
catered dinners, "The ArtsBall" as fund raisers)
Other programs include, my favorite, GRANTS for teachers and Scholarships to
Graduating students who will be Majoring in Art.
We gave $2,000 to teachers in Grants last year! The K-2 Art teacher is making
a tile mural with 3 years worth of students each making a tile. ArtLink
grants
helped pay for the tiles, glazes, firing and person to assemble the wall. The
9-12 French teacher got funding for paints, canvas and brushes so that she
could do a session on Impressionism with her French students. The 6-8 Art
teacher got materials for metal embossing and we brought in a ceramic artist
(not me) to do a workshop in terra sig with the 7th & 8th graders who were
studying early American civilizations. we are also supporting a literary
magazine for 9-12th grade.
I wish that more of the teachers would send in their applications as it is
wonderful to see them being able to do art activities with kids who otherwise
might not be experiencing them. I also believe that many children will learn
their topic more fully if they have the opportunity to "touch and do" what
they
are learning as opposed to just reading about a subject. It develops a deeper
understanding of the subject matter.
Anyhow, definitely look to what organizations your school system may have in
place already. If not something like our "ArtLink" then maybe the traditional
PTA or an enrichment committee. The Room Mothers for each classroom can also
be of help. Our school room Mothers will take donations from parents for gift
certificates for the teachers at Holiday time and at the end of the year.
I've
also had teachers send home "wish lists" (sadly these have been known to
contain items like tissues, pencils and soap)
Do not overlook the benefit of a volunteer force of parents who are eager to
help their kids have a wonderful school experience. My sister acted as "Art
Mom" for her daughters kindergarten class last year. She went in several
times
a month to do art activities with the class. I know that she had a small
budget to work from, but personally she and her team of Moms went way over for
the benefit of their sons and daughters. Many parents like to have
newsletters
come home letting them know what is being done and how they can help.
For the pottery workshop I acted as assistant to the woman being paid to run
it. We made ribs from old hotel keys. (my husband travels a lot and saves
them for me..they are similar to credit cards in size and material) I made
pointed carving tools with popsicle sticks. These actually worked better than
the plastic sculpting tools. Cutting wires from wire that the teacher had and
I donated chamie and plastic spoons to the kids for polishing their pieces.
(and 3 hours/week for 3 months)
>
>I ran a Santa's Workshop where we made record
>amounts of money and donated it to various departments.
>We had raffles, sold pizza, cup cakes, cookies, drinks
>mugs filled with candy, face painting and pictures
>with Santa. We decorated the walls with art the kids
>made and had an Art show too. The Music department
>provided most of the musical entertainment. We involved
>parents, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and local businesses.
>
>It took myself and another mother months of preparation.
>We started in August! It was a labor of love! The kids
>loved it, the parents loved it and we made over $1800
>in 2 days. It was split between Music, Art and Gym Depts.
>
>Every school has a core group of parents that are willing
>to do things like this, you just have to connect with them.
>
EXACTLY!!! :)
Linda
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