smartin 03/20/2012 at 03:55pm
I teach in inner-city Houston. Testing is the name of the game. Jobs are on the line and there is a very real fear that that teachers' "Value Added" scores will cause them to lose their jobs. The stress is palpable. It effects me as an art teacher in that often teachers hold their "struggling" students back from attending art class. They tutor them during their planning and also on Saturdays. Kids lose out on the arts and creative thinking opportunities in a concerted effort to make them "Test-Ready." Kids are stressed, and increasingly uninterested in a narrowing curriculum. My heart hurts for them and I am infuriated. I try to make art as creatively challenging as I can....

megbell 03/25/2012 at 06:07pm
I lived 9 years in Friendswood which is near Houston and left to return to my home state of Pennsylvania. When I read your post I felt really sad. Things here are not nearly so bad here but it could be our future. Keep up your spirit we know that art is important and display, display display. Art is hands on and art is problems solving and art is the source creativity.

Astabeth 04/01/2012 at 05:57pm
I agree! Display, and make sure you are there as an outlet for the kids who need it. If you can get one or two to do really well and show portfolios, get scholarships, get in the paper, etc., it can really help. PR is really beneficial.

MsAlkire 02/28/2013 at 08:00pm
Look up the statistics on the benefit of arts education! I printed some off and have them posted around the school during open house and other important times. (ex: Students who participate in art are more likely to participate in a math or science fair, or receive an award for academic achievement etc...) Also keep in mind these statistics: http://pinterest.com/pin/200128777162799217/

paintpeace 11/05/2013 at 02:16pm
Hi there. I teach middle school with similar circumstances. With my youngest group I have begun teaching an elementary school curriculum (which, of course, can be taught at any level. They are doing better with this approach)... ie, tracing stencils of fruit, to create their own composition...drawing step by step (to achieve a recognizable plant or animal), and creating a grid enlargement of a popular cartoon character (sponge bob and mickey mouse were favored-- I printed out from Google images and created a grid on a transparency which was photocopied on top of the cartoon. Cartoon enlargement was VERY popular and engaging-- they learned to use a ruler to draw straight lines and learned to use a "variety of lines" to transfer their drawing square by square. WHen you are ready to teach contour drawing "Self portrait of hand with pencil and cell phone or ipod" was also very successful. Backgrounds can be geometric, imaginary or realistic. Good luck. Hope this helps.