WHew536674@CS.COM on sat 16 sep 00
Snip: Somebody mentioned that they thought art app classes were useless
unless you already liked art.....
>From one who has taught Art App classes, on the border, for the past 11 years
I have to jump in here. I know for a fact that the majority of students who
have signed up for that Art App class (because it must be "easier" than Music
App or Theater Arts, and "damn it I am required to take one of them" ) are in
for a surprise. Their first shock is that it isn't easy. Once they get over
that shock, and those who were looking for a passing grade because they sat
in the class and paid their tuition are out the door, the challenge starts.
None of them are Art majors. I love art, and my goal is to make as many as
possible love it also. This is no easy feat. To make a long story short, my
reward comes at the end of the semester when I read their gallery reports.
They are not "graded" on these reports, they are a requirement for the
course, so praising art or me won't help them grade wise and they know that,
so the comments are honest. Most of them say that they didn't know anything
about art before they came to this class, but now they have a real
appreciation for it. They are going to take their children to museums, they
are going back to the gallery, they realize there was far more to it than
they ever imagined. These were the ones that started out taking a class they
had to take, and left with a new out look on life. Not long ago, one former
student came up to me and said I changed his life. After he finished his
praising, I walked away and cried. Many times I feel like I am beating my
head against the wall and wonder how I can do this over and over and over
again and still maintain the enthusiasm and passion, Gods will I sometimes
think. So, maybe some think it is a waist of time, I thought biology was a
waist of time and some of the other undergraduate courses I took. But, by
the end of the semester I had an appreciation for that art "unrelated" (or so
I thought at the time) subject. But all of life is related. So, according to
my experiences of teaching the subject with a couple thousand students behind
me I truly believe that Art app classes are not a waist of time for someone
who doesn't like art. Once out of my class they do!
Joyce A
Mission, TX
Gayle Bair on sun 17 sep 00
Thank you Joyce. Your efforts could very well
be instrumental in preserving the arts. Keep that
enthusiasm burning!
I'm sure other potters frequently experience
what happened to me yesterday.
At the local Farmer's market 2 people came over to
my stand and proceeded to admire and tell me just
how much they now appreciate pottery.
They both had taken a pottery class.
Education is such a powerful tool!
I have a big thank you for the person who suggested a
"Please Touch" sign. I have had a fabulous response to
those 2 words at my display.
I place one next to a little sand garden. Kids and adults
gravitate toward it. One mom started to chastise her kids
for touching it... she read the sign wrong.... she thought it said
do not touch. It was an amusing moment when her kids and I
gently corrected her.
It's hard breaking old habits and such a joy when we do!
Gayle Bair- must fire today... I'm running out of pots!
Snip: Somebody mentioned that they thought art app classes were useless
unless you already liked art.....
Snip>
They are going to take their children to museums, they
are going back to the gallery, they realize there was far more to it than
they ever imagined. These were the ones that started out taking a class
they
had to take, and left with a new out look on life. Not long ago, one former
student came up to me and said I changed his life. After he finished his
praising, I walked away and cried. Many times I feel like I am beating my
head against the wall and wonder how I can do this over and over and over
again and still maintain the enthusiasm and passion, Gods will I sometimes
think. So, maybe some think it is a waist of time, I thought biology was a
waist of time and some of the other undergraduate courses I took. But, by
the end of the semester I had an appreciation for that art "unrelated" (or
so
I thought at the time) subject. But all of life is related. So, according
to
my experiences of teaching the subject with a couple thousand students
behind
me I truly believe that Art app classes are not a waist of time for someone
who doesn't like art. Once out of my class they do!
Joyce A
Mission, TX
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syrylyn on mon 18 sep 00
Being a newly retired art teacher, you hit on the head what I will miss.
Thoses students that say you made a difference to them, those that come back
and thank you.
That is what made it all worth while.
Blessings to you!
Sandy Meadors
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