Karen Sullivan on tue 18 dec 01
I gave my last final this morning, and I become reflective
about the semester and the products the students bring in for
review. Often, I review my performance with the class, trying to muster a
strategy for a more successful class.
My philosophy about teaching, which has been passed on to me,
requires the student take responsibility for their own learning
and for the opportunities I provided in the class. My role as a teacher is
primarily to light a fire cracker and run. In actual practice that means
demonstrations often....no assignments. Ignite passion...don't assign it
as a project. Grading is based purely on effort. The more you do, the better
you get. Be always present and aware to field questions and provide
support when asked for....otherwise allow space without
judgement.
I hope that my students leave with some minimum understanding
about materials...and perhaps when and if they are ready to
learn...they can open a book....
The major opportunity is perhaps a glimmer of their voice
as artists...a willingness to explore and find the range
of their questions. The practice of making.
Any thoughts on teaching philosophies would be appreciated.
bamboo karen, who mostly lurks now
Martin Howard on wed 19 dec 01
Karen, I wish you had been one of my teachers when I was young:-)
My experience is of being stuffed with what were called facts.
I later proved them to be untruths, for me at least.
At 23 I chucked it all overboard and started to create a spherical jigsaw
puzzle of personal philosophy working from grass roots, soil. Call it clay
if you like.
If a bit did not fit I threw it out or kept it in a reserve pile.
That has worked fairly well. It creates lateral but joined up thinking.
So very few teachers and lecturers even tried to fire my imagination.
They just wanted me to pass exams.
Now, during the Children's Pottery Parties, I have the opportunity to work
in a very similar way as you did, Karen. Light a fuse and run!
With the last party of 5 eight year old girls, they were so engrossed in
slipping their mouse casserole houses, that we had to physically pull them
from the table so they could clean up ready for the food and drink party
which was to follow.
It was like chucking out time at the pub!
And the way they followed my fingers in the pots on the wheel to create mugs
and bowls is truly amazing.
If more of us could spend time doing this kind of work, I'm sure the future
generations would be much more pottery conscious, to the financial benefit
of those who pot for a living, rather than for retirement.
Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Updated 13/12/01
Carol Casey on wed 19 dec 01
--- Martin Howard wrote:
>You wrote:
>
> If more of us could spend time doing this kind of
> work, I'm sure the future
> generations would be much more pottery conscious, to
> the financial benefit
> of those who pot for a living, rather than for
> retirement.
>
>Not to mention the different sort of children who
would be coming up in the world.
I don't know how it is in England, but in America we
sacrifice our children on the bonfire of the economy:
our education is geared to create good employees and
good consumers. We've succeeded in creating people who
think of themselves as consumers first, which is
basically not thinking at all. Well, that's good for
the economy, isn't it? Just not good for helping
create full human beings or full citizens in a
democracy.
But it sounds as if you are a good teacher. Lucky
kids.
Casey
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miriam shelomith on wed 19 dec 01
>--- Martin Howard wrote:
> >You wrote:
> >
> > If more of us could spend time doing this kind of
> > work, I'm sure the future
> > generations would be much more pottery conscious, to
> > the financial benefit
> > of those who pot for a living, rather than for
> > retirement.
> >
> >Not to mention the different sort of children who
>would be coming up in the world.
>
>I don't know how it is in England, but in America we
>sacrifice our children on the bonfire of the economy:
>our education is geared to create good employees and
>good consumers. We've succeeded in creating people who
>think of themselves as consumers first, which is
>basically not thinking at all. Well, that's good for
>the economy, isn't it? Just not good for helping
>create full human beings or full citizens in a
>democracy.
>
>But it sounds as if you are a good teacher. Lucky
>kids.
>
>Casey
I do not agree that children are sacrificed.
As a parent who spent years carpooling to classes in music, art, sports,
Community Theater and now as a pottery teacher, I see children that are
being given opportunities that leave parents running in circles to assure
that their children are given a broad view of what is available in the
world.
My daughter volunteered, as did several of her friends, at the local nursing
home while in high school. When my mother was in a home a couple of years
ago, met children who came to visit their adopted grandparents as volunteers
each and every week.
There were years when I kept bail money in the house because of the
political involvement of my child and those of her friends. When marching
in protest in Washington DC, New York City and other cities across the
country, am always pleased to see the number of young people and parents
with children that are in the march and crowd.
Community Centers, parks, private and public schools offer a wide range of
activities and classes for children to partake in seven days a week all year
long. Volunteerism seems to me to be at an all time high.
pottermim
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Carol Casey on wed 19 dec 01
> pottermim wrote:
{Snip}
> I do not agree that children are sacrificed.
>
> As a parent who spent years carpooling to classes in
> music, art, sports,
> Community Theater and now as a pottery teacher, I
> see children that are
> being given opportunities that leave parents running
> in circles to assure
> that their children are given a broad view of what
> is available in the
> world.
There were years when I kept bail money in the house
because of the
political involvement of my child and those of her
friends.
-----------
Whoa!
I wasn't speaking of parents sacrificing their
children (although I'm not saying that doesn't happen
even among those who are running around assuring that
their children are well rounded——what if a child wants
to create a club with other kids and no adults
involved or read on afternoons after school or take a
walk in the woods and make a fort there [yes, I know,
unsafe. There's another tale to tell] or sit around
imagining all inside his or her head? What children do
you know who are free to engage in unstructured
self-generated activities, freely exploring from the
inside out rather than from the outside in?)
I was talking about schools. Standardized testing
especially and things taught from textbooks rather
than from a teacher's creativity. Before the
enrichment classes after school. Teachers are not
encouraged to teach from their gut.
As a pottery teacher and arts supporter, you probably
don't have that problem, but I see what is emphasized
in at least Eastern American education, particularly
for students whose parents may not be as involved for
whatever reason. And the rhetoric of making good
workers is truly there.
And I wasn't bashing volunteerism, although given my
splenic mood . . .
Anyway, I'm sorry to have been unclear in my post.
I like this list and I like the people on it, who are
open, generous, and creative and keep bail money at
home. I'm keeping your e-mail address just in case I
can e-mail rather than call for help :).
Happy holidays to all,
Carol Casey
>
>
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Carole Rishel on wed 19 dec 01
Martin,
I'd like to hear more about the Children's Pottery Parties. What do you =
demonstrate? Is it a one day affair, or do they come back to trim, glaze=
, fire etc.? How old are the kids, and how many do you teach at one time=
?
Carole Rishel
Smithville, TX
kallahcee@msn.com =20
=20
Now, during the Children's Pottery Parties, I have the opportunity to wor=
k
in a very similar way as you did, Karen. Light a fuse and run!
With the last party of 5 eight year old girls, they were so engrossed in
slipping their mouse casserole houses, that we had to physically pull the=
m
from the table so they could clean up ready for the food and drink party
which was to follow.
It was like chucking out time at the pub!
And the way they followed my fingers in the pots on the wheel to create m=
ugs
and bowls is truly amazing.
Martin Howard
Carole Rishel on wed 19 dec 01
Miriam,
Very well said! I have known parents who are run ragged in an effort to =
bring every opportunity to their children. I do however believe that the=
schools and politics try in every way possible to undermine what the par=
ents try to do. The cultural programs are the first to be cut in a budge=
t crunch - certainly not football - that brings in lots of money!! It se=
ems there could be other ways of bringing in money for the school besides=
football (don't get me started on sports!)
Carole Rishel
Smithville, TX
kallahcee@msn.com =20
=20
I do not agree that children are sacrificed.
As a parent who spent years carpooling to classes in music, art, sports,
Community Theater and now as a pottery teacher, I see children that are
being given opportunities that leave parents running in circles to assure
that their children are given a broad view of what is available in the
world.
My daughter volunteered, as did several of her friends, at the local nurs=
ing
home while in high school. When my mother was in a home a couple of year=
s
ago, met children who came to visit their adopted grandparents as volunte=
ers
each and every week.
There were years when I kept bail money in the house because of the
political involvement of my child and those of her friends. When marchin=
g
in protest in Washington DC, New York City and other cities across the
country, am always pleased to see the number of young people and parents
with children that are in the march and crowd.
Community Centers, parks, private and public schools offer a wide range o=
f
activities and classes for children to partake in seven days a week all y=
ear
long. Volunteerism seems to me to be at an all time high.
pottermim
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