Advocating In Your School

After my first few years of teaching, I began to notice a trend that I’m sure is rampant in your school.  America, parents, administration and students revere the arts!  

What?

You haven’t noticed that yet and you’ve been teaching for 20 years?

Ah, well I assure you people everywhere can and will appreciate and celebrate art if you provide them with the challenge and the opportunity.

Getting the support of parents is difficult in this day and age BUT not impossible!  Parents, nowadays, are busy working.  Sitting down with their children to draw or paint has suffered greatly because of the change in the dynamics of the parental role.

But there are ways to help parents remember the joys of ART!

Here’s an idea that is born of this era of technologies.  How about take digital photos of your students work and email it to the parents.  Write just a short note to Mom or Dad.  Something like “Wow!  Look what Jose created today in art!

Post your student’s artwork on Artsonia!  If you’re not familiar with Artsonia it’s an online student gallery where teachers can post their student’s art for everyone to view (of course with parental permission).  The good thing for the young artist is that both grandma in Ohio and a cousin in Tibet can jump online, see the artwork, and make comments to the student. Everyone can go to Artsonia’s online store and purchase all kinds of merchandise decorated with the student’s artwork.   And there’s a bonus for the teacher!  Artsonia will send you 15% of the  sales to use in your classroom.

Paint Murals!  Nothing makes a bigger statement in a school than a mural.  In my last school building we painted a mural filled with characters from literature. Here at the new middle school my coworker and I decided that the walls in the stairwell were bare and needed color.  After collaborating and brainstorming we decided to have students design murals in styles of POP artists.  The kids rose to the challenge and we now have four beautiful murals, which honor the art styles of Keith Haring, Peter Max, Elizabeth Murray, and Roy Lichtenstein.

My favorite way to make art viewable to my community is to create a permanent Museum in our school.  Many years ago I had the idea that student’s work should be honored by professionally framing.  So I selected 3 or 4 pieces that I thought were outstanding.  I approached our PTA and Administration and asked them to provide the funding for this worthwhile project.  After getting the nod for framing I visited the local frame shop and discussed my project.  The Forked River Frame Shop has been wonderful!  I deliver the work to them in June and they have it ready in September.  I allow them to select the frames and mats.  This gives them some freedom to find low cost but high quality mats and frames to keep the price down.  They always come out beautiful!   

Now after more than 2 decades of working this project my schools hallways are filled with great art! I have over 100 pieces of art gracing our schools walls.   People are astounded by the accomplishments of my middle school students.  They can’t help but notice the art, it’s everywhere!  It’s professionally presented and given the respect it deserves.  The Administration proudly walk parents through the school, pointing out the great work.

If you don’t think your school will be able to afford the framing ask how much money is spent on sports uniforms.  Think of creative ways to get the money.  How about run a school dance for the arts!