Topic: Job-hunt/Where are the Art Standards listed?/ Where is the category for Art under teacher description and subject/Where is my voice??? <-- that last one was thrown in there to highlight my 2-week old sore throat and voice loss
I have been very discouraged lately. I find myself constantly having to validate my content area to others. That doesn't bother me so much as the fact that I am beginning to have to give myself mirror-based pep talks...to convince myself. Worry causes doubt; doubt causes fear; and fear causes you to panic about your Bentley-sized student loan debt...not to mention the whole hopes and dreams and aspirations thing. But you know...who really wants to do what they love anyways, right?
Newsflash: ME!
That being said, I am terrified that there will not be a place for me within a school simply because visual art is seen as a disposable subject. Not even a subject in the eyes of most. Something extra. Something non necessary. Something of lesser value than math, science, language arts, or history. I think study hall or bathroom breaks are seen as superior events than that of art class (and music, drama, or dance for that matter). It breaks my heart.
Rant complete. Now, a few words from our sponsors (not really, but I liked what they said).
"Institutions... assign us ranks and place considerable pressure on us to fulfill our defined roles. We need something to help us restore our lost or distorted humanity. Each of us has suppressed feelings that have built up, a voiceless cry in the depths of our souls, waiting for expression. Art, both in practice and appreciation, gives those feelings voice and form." --Daisaku Ikeda from The Way of Youth
"The sound of the sea, the curve of a horizon, wind in leaves, the cry of a bird leave manifold impression in us. And suddenly, without our wishing it at all, one of these memories spills from us and finds expression in musical language... I want to sing my interior landscape with the simple artlessness of a child." -- Claude Debussy
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You can find TN standards here. http://tennessee.gov/education/ci/arts/index.shtml
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY know where you're coming from. The sad truth is, we have very little control over others opinions of our profession. But I recommend two books. First, you've probably heard of Howard Gardner''s Theory of multiple intelligences. Second, Right Brained Children in a Left Brained World. It speaks about ADD and things of that nature. But also addresses how most teachers are left brained, and incapable of understanding how right brained/creative/other-people learn things.
We have to champion our cause, because very few others will. And you know, in your life, how it's been affected and helped because of your experience with the arts. Hold onto that. From what I can see, we are viewed better than we used to be, but we still have more to go...