I’m talking about respect, about common sense and decency, about the dictate that our best hopes must always be acted upon, that all people everywhere possess an innate hunger for, and right to, what is sustaining, good, and beautiful. – Bill Strickland
Bill Strickland, who spoke at the 2008 HOW Design Conference, is of particular inspiration to me when I consider my teaching philosophy. This man has helped countless inner city students realize their self-worth by providing outlets for creativity—outlets that were not available before. When you put someone in a prison he will act like a prisoner, but if you surround him with beauty, art, and culture, he will be inspired to reach goals he otherwise would not have thought of. Attempting to positively affect all of my students might be a lofty ambition, but if I can inspire a handful to greatness, my job will be well worth it.
To teach art well is to coax out a student’s inner artist by challenging them to push themselves toward results outside of their usual realm of thinking. There is no wrong thinking when it comes to creativity! If students feel at-ease and valued, they will be much more likely to create uninhibited, expressive artwork. It is my experience thus far that the classroom community blossoms if there is a fun, humorous element present alongside art-making and lesson-learning—my best classes during my practicum were the ones where I was the happiest, dancing around and joking with my students. In order to express themselves, students must feel comfortable, and a safe community can do wonders for a student’s comfort level. We are achieving something together, all of us a part of the same group.
As an art educator, I wish to help shape independent, responsible, creative thinkers. It is so important to show that you value young people by truly listening, and I hope that by teaching art and listening to my students, I will be able to inspire them and give them voices, particularly those who do not see bright futures for themselves. I have been thinking a great deal about collaborative projects for the greater good—teacher and students working together to send a message. Given the passion I feel about sustainable living, I plan to incorporate that as a running throughline in the classes I teach. As a teacher, I am able to influence my students by opening their eyes to issues of personal and global importance, and together as artists we can create artwork with a message that informs and inspires others to follow suit. Students will find that they can in fact make a positive difference in the world around them, and the creation of art is an incredibly meaningful way to do so.
