I was very fortunate to attend a high school that had an excellent art program. Courses ranged from Jewelry/Metals, Graphic Design, Advanced Photography, Wheel Throwing to AP Portfolio. It was because of this wide range of studio art courses I was able to fall in love with art. Attending this high school I could not have asked for anything better, but as a future art teacher I feel that OPRF’s art program will hinder my expectations.
The students in art courses in my high school were most likely there because they wanted to be there. There was only one required art course, which was Art Foundations. Most students stopped exploring the program after that. The students in the more advanced courses were very hard working, and for the most part pretty damn good. If you wanted to stand out in these classes you had to come in during your lunch period, study hall, maybe even miss a gym class or two, to make your project stand out. I was one of those people who would be in the Wheel Throwing room for three or four periods in a row not caring what class I was missing. It was my goal to be the best in the class.
It is because of the intensity of my high schools art program I feel the expectations I have are very far fetched. I have never been exposed to a school with a barely-there art program. I except all schools I walk into to have a classroom strictly from wheel throwing, which I know is completely crazy, but it is all I know. I guess you can say I was spoiled. I would really like to student teach, or even just volunteer at a school were there is only one art teacher. I want to be exposed to a different kind of art program. Because, I know the idea I have about what a high school art programs is pretty hard to find.
I am excited to be working with children everyday, and exploring art with them. I feel that when one becomes a teacher they find out who they really are. Kids have a way of pushing buttons that you never knew were there. Your true colors will show. But, besides getting on your nerves kids can also make your day. Just by something they say. That is what I am most excited about. I just hope they don’t think I am too young.
I had a very intensive art experience in my high school as well and definitely credit it with my interest in art and teaching art. I have gotten to do my practicum in a one art teacher school and it is a much different world from the one I grew up in.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion there are advantages and disadvantages to both, a larger dept. will have many more resources but there will also be a lot more opinions involved and input to be considered when designing curriculum. At a school where your the only teacher you might not have as many opportunities but your the WHOLE ART DEPARTMENT, which is kind of an exciting thought.
My highschool offered the same type of art classes and I feel very privledged to have had that expereince. I agree with you that I too have no idea what it would be like to teach a a school that is less privledged in its resources. I think this may show us even more that we will have to be inovative in certain situations trying to give every student somewhat of the same opportunities. It is exciting to think of all the possibilities available but also scary at the same time.
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