CSLPZZN@AOL.COM on fri 26 oct 01
Thank you to the many who kindly responded to my question.
All have said you touch the clay with the student at some point in the
learning process. Many lay your hands on the students hands. All of you ask
permission first.
Phew..these are all the things that I do. The 14 people that have been with
me for 13 six week sessions don't expect me to ask before I step in to help.
They have always tried until they throw their arms up in despair and call me
over. It's pretty much understood that closeness between us is good and
healthy and accelerates the learning process.
This wasn't a complaint by any student but a criticism by the other teacher
who is completely hands off. But not all people perceive what's going on
during a demo, not all hear the "buzz" words when talking them thru something
and some people just can't figure things all on their own.
I've never had a voice teacher ask if he or she could lay their hands on my
gut and lower back (at the same time) to feel if I'm filling the lungs from
the bottom up, or a riding instructor that didn't take my leg and put it in
the proper position against the saddle, or a piano teacher that didn't sit
hip to hip on the bench playing duets criss crossing hands and arms, or a
golf teacher or tennis teacher that didn't grab hold of a wrist or fore arm
or whatever. I can't recall anyone asking...and never gave it a thought until
now. Can honestly say that I would expect being physically manipulated.
I'm an avid hand shaker and really give a "man's" shake not like a wimpy
shake where people sort of hold the fingers...(unless they are elderly).
Will that need permission someday?
Took a $230.00 class at THE ceramic school in Asheville, NC. The throwing
teacher walked into class at 9:30 on the nose and walked out at 12. Did lots
of demos....then you were on your own. Poor young girl next to me would
throw off the right side of the pot and then go to the left side over and
over to re-center. Snagged the wall every time. He walked right by her time
after time. He made his $25.00 an hour and wasn't too interested in anything
else. He is a great potter and very successful....guess that doesn't make
you a great teacher.
A footnote to all this....I quit the Community Craft center...last night was
the last...time to move on and shake that pebble out of my sandal....have a
studio at home....all have asked to come here.
I've taken everyone's advice, theory, methods, to heart, printed all the
responses for future reference and am grateful for everyone's thoughtfulness
in taking time to help me.
You're all terrific.
Carolyn
,
John Baymore on sun 28 oct 01
He walked right by her time after time. He made his $25.00 an hour and
wasn't too interested in anything
else. He is a great potter and very successful....guess that doesn't mak=
e
you a great teacher.
Carolyn,
I think you made a supurb observation in your last post.
The skills exhibited the "great teacher" of clay include a DIFFERENT set
than those utilized by the "great potter". It is certainly possible for =
a
great potter to share those same teaching skills and be both....... but
that does not neccessarily always occur.
It always interests me that to teach most anything at the college
level....... you don't need to have some sort of formal "education"
training in your course of study........ yet at the primary and secondary=
level...... you DO. It seems to be assumed that if you have a college
education........ you know how to teach well. Absorb it by osmosis, I
guess.
I've had some professors I took classes with that disprove that theory >.
Best,
..............................john
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752 (s)
800-900-1110 (s)
JohnBaymore.com
JBaymore@compuserve.com
John.Baymore@GSD-CO.com
"Earth, Water, and Fire Noborigama Woodfiring Workshop 2002 Dates TBA"=
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