Getting Your Kids In The Arts
These days, with both public and private school systems eliminating arts programs for elementary aged children, it’s up to us parents to make sure our children get the arts education they need.
Radical idea, I know, parents having to take hold of their childrens educations themselves, not being solely dependent on the school systems to supply their every need. (Feel the sarcasm yet?) But really y’all, we have a serious education issue in our community. We all know it. How do we fix the problems? I don’t have all the answers, but what I do know is that the arts should be a fundamental part of this. When a local private school decided to art their elementary school art program, my eyes were opened to realize that this is a problem not just in public schools but private ones as well. And even if it wasn’t happening in private school, doesn’t every child deserve the chance at an equal education? I’m pretty sure that was what Brown vs. Board of Education decided.
So, one advantage of writing my own blog is I get to choose my own content and I can promote whatever whomever I want. Not to say that I don’t work hard to make it accurate or ethical journalistic-ally because I do, but when you mom asks you to write a blog post about her art camp…. you kind of have to do it.
Then I realized… really, this could be so much bigger than just my mother’s art camp. It’s clearly upon us as parents to make sure our children receive the items other than the basic education outside of the traditional classroom. So, I am going to be researching arts programs in Macon (if anyone would like to know about programs outside of Macon- let me know and I will assist in your research) to post here for those who might be interested.
For those of you who don’t know my mother taught at Stratford for YEARS- I mean years. She started as an aid when I was in the second grade- I distinctly remember it. They were kind enough to sit me down and ask how I felt about it cause she would be a kindergarten aid- same age group as my brother. (” I don’t care but she can’t be in Richard’s room.”) After 20+ years of teaching art there, Mom is no longer at Stratford. So what’s Mom doing this summer? Teaching art!
As a side note- interviewing your mother… not so easy… but I attempted it below and suceeded in not putting my head through a wall in the process….
MIWM: So, Mom, let’s pretend you basically haven’t been my own personal art teacher my whole life. Tell me about your background and how you got started in this:
I was born and raised in Macon. I would draw stories from my imagination on my closet walls and on the paper lining my drawers when I was young and supposed to be taking a nap. Years later my mother, Eugenia Simmons, began teaching private art lessons to children, teenagers, and adults. My friends and I grew up making and creating art in various forms in the basement of my home. We all majored in art, art education, or graphic art in college. Being the teacher, I majored in both art education and elementary education. My mother went from teaching art to selling her art in galleries , competing in art shows, and exhibiting in national museums.
When my children were little, I, too, followed in my mother’s footsteps, selling my art in galleries, competing in art shows, and exhibiting in museums. When my friend, Brooks Danztler, founded Creative Alternative, she encouraged me to begin teaching art with her. As our children grew mine started attending a local private school and I eventually joined them, teaching art as an aide in kindergarten classes. I was asked to teach middle school art classes. A few years later, elementary and kindergarten art classes were added to my art teaching schedule, making me a full time art teacher.
MIWM:Why do you enjoy teaching kids art?
(insert Dad being a smart ass again… “Cause they can’t talk back.”)
Mom: Because I enjoy watching young minds grow and develop. Sometimes children are the most creative simply because they are the least inhibited. They are not afraid to express themselves because society has yet to teach them not to.
MIWM: So, if someone wanted more information about your camps or about your teaching in general where do they go?
Mom: I will be teaching preschool studio art camps at Creative Alternative: June 17-21,June 24-28, skip July 4, the next 3 weeks in July. Each week has a theme and 4 media days and a presentation day on Friday for moms. Snacks and supplies are provided. Each camp is $100 including a $25 non-refundable registration fee. Contact me at mizzmacart@gmail.com or creativealternative.infoor artforkidsonline.blogspot.com or artforkidsonline.com.
As a closing note, for those who don’t think the arts do have a lasting impact on students, I will pull a quote from the Washington Post. This article quoted Lisa Phillips who, according to the Post, is “an author, blog journalist, arts and leadership educator, speaker and business owner.” The article is titled “Top 10 Skills Children Learn From the Arts”. This one below I feel is especially enlightening even for me, as I use this skill everyday in my professional and personal life:
3. Problem Solving – Artistic creations are born through the solving of problems. How do I turn this clay into a sculpture? How do I portray a particular emotion through dance? How will my character react in this situation? Without even realizing it kids that participate in the arts are consistently being challenged to solve problems. All this practice problem solving develops children’s skills in reasoning and understanding. This will help develop important problem-solving skills necessary for success in any career.
To read more go here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/01/22/top-10-skills-children-learn-from-the-arts/
