Parents, not students, need to learn the value of art appreciation
There are some events in life that generate incredible marks in society, one such event is the recent art renaissance art lesson and the firing of the administrator.
As a retired art teacher, I have one or two ideas to ponder about. I taught middle school for four years and I finished my professional career as an elementary art teacher. I was very fortunate to teach art to kindergarteners to 5th graders. Every year as I prepared to address my students and welcome them to a new and exciting school year, I addressed the classroom art book library arranged by grade level available to any student. I never removed any book and made sure that the books were age appropriate. As my coworker (the music teacher) and I had lunch, I would comment that “the talk” was given.
“The talk” began with a discussion about museums. It would start in the form of a question. Have you ever been to an art museum? Some would raise their hands. I continued describing what a museum would look like and what was the function of a museum. All this was prompted by the wonderful comments and questions from students.
Next, I would say to them that many of the paintings in museums are nude. Is there anything wrong with that? Students would very quickly begin a conversation about why those paintings and sculptures were appropriate in an art museum. The range of comments were very insightful. Then I would ask, what would happen if you saw a few boys and girls in front of a painting of a nude and they would be giggling and whispering uncontrollable? They would say they did not know what art, or what a museum is all about. Even though they were young, they knew the difference why art was important and not inappropriate.
Year after year, when I would be waiting for students to have some time to analyze, discuss and answer my questions, the comments from my students would get more sophisticated and intelligent as years passed.
This was one of my pride and joy moments because I knew I have taught students not for a final curriculum but for life. These are the conversations that art curriculums, paintings and sculptures like David by Michelangelo do. They generate incredible conversations in which students can draw educated conclusions in a safe environment.
Never in my life would I have anticipated that “the talk” needs to be given to parents now days instead of students.
My only hope for the future is that the integrity of subjects like art can continue to provide the critical thinking that our youth desperately needs.
Leslie Anderson retired in September 2020 after working for the public school system as an art teacher for over 29 years. She received a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design and a Master’s in Art Education and Art Therapy at Florida State University.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Parents, not students, need to learn the value of art appreciation
