We had a conversation today about being a working artist and
being a public school art teacher. Art can jeopardize your position in your
school. In schools we try to teach students about art, however traditionally
focusing on non-contemporary art, which is less risky. Why should my personal
work as an artist, providing the content be mature or heavy, cause a detriment
to my career as a teacher? In college, having artist like Kiki Smith or Carolee
Schneeman would be the opportunity of a lifetime, despite the content of their
personal work. Imagine the work that they would push their students to create
and the amazing influence they would have over students learning about art.
Dynamic artist would completely shape the art in the public school to by
something more that principles and elements and become what art is in our
contemporary society. So why is it a bad thing to censor teacher work? Is
administration afraid that having adult content in an artist’s personal work
may pollute the students? Perhaps in an elementary school that may be slightly
inappropriate but that doesn’t have to carry over exactly.
Art means many different things to any people. But it’s a
tool to make people think and a practice to instill problem-solving skills. Why
would dynamic, controversial, but strong work be a deterrent from this,
especially if I follow state standards?
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