“Society is where it is today because people had the perception; the images and the imagination; the creativity that the Arts provide, to make the world the place we live in today."

 

 

I know it is my responsibility to be the advocate for a practice that allows for social and personal growth within society and within the individual.  The innate ability to create art is something that cannot be taught, but instead nurtured and encouraged to grow.  While the act of creating can be messy, frustrating, and complicated, it is up to the educator to enact guidelines and structure for their students.  The educator also holds the responsibility to be the light that allows a student to reach their potential and find the joy in art and the gift of boundless imagination.  With the proper environment and devoted demeanor, the ability of a student is limitless.  The physical act of creating allows the students to learn about themselves, to learn about their environments, to test the limits, and to develop an understanding of the world that you can only achieve through hands-on learning and critical thinking.  I will implement this philosophy into my teaching by creating lessons that have an outcome that can be achieved through multiple methods, which will require critical thinking to achieve an aesthetically pleasing piece that also connects to real-life circumstances.  It becomes the teacher’s agency of the child to help their students’ develop a voice.

In high school, I found that my art classes often became just about completing projects that had little substance.  However, my photography instructor, who became my mentor, created a classroom environment that focused on responsibility of actions, since her students were allowed to leave campus with expensive camera equipment, and were trusted to work with large machinery and dangerous chemicals within the darkroom.  She also focused on critical thinking implemented through classroom discussion and student critique.  At that point in my high school career, I didn’t even know what a critique of artwork was.  She also saw my potential in graphic art and allowed me to be the director of the school’s yearbook, which I believe helped me feel confident in my ability to work within digital mediums.  Without her support, I wouldn’t have graduated with an art-based scholarship, and I don’t believe the flame that was ignited with my desire to become and educator would have been sparked.

Eugene Ferguson, an engineer as well as a university professor, once said, “…Society is where it is today because people had the perception; the images and the imagination; the creativity that the Arts provide, to make the world the place we live in today."  We are at the forefront of a time where art is continuously being pushed to the side, torn down, defunded, and let go of within the school system.  Art has become a commodity and a pass-time for students.  I was fortunate enough to attend a school district that still encouraged local artists to visit for lessons and pushed for artistic literacy.  The classes I attended and the teachers that I met became mentors to me and allowed my confidence to blossom due to their reassurance and support.  I believe I am obligated to be the advocate for developing minds and I will help my students step out of high school and into the world knowing that they are capable of being the positive energy for themselves as well as for society.