Final Fairwell
Posted onJanuary 5, 2010
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Two Year Report Secondary Art Education
Chairman: Lynn Schmidt
2007-2009
I did not accomplish as much as I had intended but I did what I could. My main goal was to get information to the Secondary Teachers or at least let them be able to have better access to information than they have had in the past. I wanted them to know what there was out there for them, or their students, or their programs. I wanted to encourage them to step out of their comfort zones and try something new each year. It is very hard for secondary teachers because they usually have taught for a very long time and get stuck in a “rut” of thought, action, and growth. I wanted them to embrace this self –knowledge and to work themselves out of that mental mindset. If they could just try one thing new each year then they and their students would be moving forward. I personally try to experience art ‘happenings” outside our region so that I know that I am keeping pace with the rest of the world or at least the country. My goal was to encourage my fellow secondary teachers to “follow suit”. I determined to do this in three different ways:
- create a blog location for the dissimulation of information to all secondary art teachers whether AAEA members or not, whether AL teachers or not.
- notify teachers of art activities that their students or they themselves could participate in, both in state and out of state.
- encourage teachers to promote growth activities within their schools for the benefit of their students and to give them helpful suggestions and motivations to do them.
The creation of the blog was the easiest of the three for me. It was beneficial, to me, because it allowed me to take stock in what I was doing as a teacher, artist, and person. It allowed me time to reflect and it made it very easy when I had to do my quarterly reports I just printed out what I wrote. I also think it will be beneficial to whoever takes over the position after me because they can easily see what I have done for the past two years and how I structured the program. If they wish to continue the blog and can give them access and it is as easy to do as typing an email. It will then remain a continuing journal of goals of the secondary arts program in AL, but the choice is theirs completely.
The blog was also a way to help with the second two goals. It would not have been as easy to attempt those without the blog. It also put the responsibility onto the shoulders of the teachers if they wanted the information or not. I did debate sending emails out but lets be honest most of those get trashed or not read…even I am guilty of ignoring emails when I have a pretty good idea what they are about or if they are going to make me feel badly about myself. The blog gives teachers some insight into thoughts of another art teacher and a place to glean information that they might not have the patience to research for themselves. It is also off the well traveled path of the “Face Books” of the world so it offers some modicum of anonymity, even though we have discovered that you can be on Face Book without your real name or photo (kind of sketchy I know).
I made sure on the blog and also in my newsletter articles and fall conference meetings to be sure the teacher knew about all the art competitions that were available to their students and to themselves as artists. I also told them about outside the region experiences that I had in the arts in San Francisco, Chicago, and Savannah. I told them how they benefitted me and my students. I told them my experiences at SCAD’s Summer Teacher program (both good and not so good). I told them about my experiences at TICA the Chicago School of the Art Institute and the benefits of that. I told them about the AP training program in Chicago. I told them about my experiences in San Francisco with the arts programs out there. I tried to stress that the more they enriched themselves the better for their program and students.
I finally encouraged their participation in the National Art Honor Society programs. I suppose that came from the fact that I was the chairman of that committee for so many years but I still feel it is a particularly valuable program for high school students because so many of our superior artists are not superior academicians. Every student has a right to feel good for some thing and this is one of the simplest ways to make a HUGE difference in a student’s life. I have sponsored chapters since 1980 and over the years I have seen it make such a big difference in students’ evaluation of their own self worth. So many teachers feel it is to much trouble and that the students don’t really care…well, I beg to differ. I have taught high school a long time and I have heard teenagers say, “I don’t care” when it really does…a lot. If I can make one student feel better about themselves a year; it is a good year. Is this not why we chose to teach? My answer is “yes”.
What have I not accomplished that I wished to these past two years? The answer would be improving attitudes toward technology and the use and ease of use in the classroom. I had hoped to sponsor several workshops in my school to aid with this goal; however, the destruction of my room, the moving into a temporary but unsuitable space, then moving into an incomplete space, and finally loss of employment tended to impede this process of growth for the art teachers in AL. I still feel like this needs to be done because so many teachers feel that it is impossible for them to teach technology without super facilities, but I know that we as artists are creative innovators and where there is a will there is a way and in my 24 years of teaching I have taught technology the whole time with what I was given or I could scrounge (and I do mean scrounge). In 1980, I taught Basic programming so that students could produce images. In 1995, I taught Interior Design and Graphic Design to classes of 30 students using 1 computer. In 2000, I taught stop-motion animation to classes of 30-35 students using 3 web cameras and 6 computers. Anything is possible if you want to do it badly enough. I would love and it is my desire for all students in AL to have these experiences. It just takes educators with a “can do” attitude and not an “I need” one.
Respectfully submitted January 5, 2010 by Lynn Schmidt, Secondary Art Education Chairman, AAEA
http://secondaryartsalabama.edublogs.org/
End of the Year Position Changing
Posted onDecember 12, 2009
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Well it has been super talking at you like this for…well I guess 2 years…but it is time to move on. I still do not have a secondary position anymore, but that is OK. I am working on so many different things. Remember, expose yourself to as many different types of art production because in your future you do not know what skills you might need in the future. This is true to your students as well. Expose them to as many different types of things as you can. Encourage them that even if they do not particularly like something that they need to have the exposure to it because the Art job market is definitely for the flexible and not the inflexible.
My final advise to you all is to be grateful for what you have…a job. A long time ago, my Master Teacher when I student taught gave me some good advise, which I unfortunately forgot at my last job I think. That advise was to “always make your Principal look good no matter what you think of them.” That is what I have always done in the past and that is the smartest thing you can do for job security. I forgot this and got arrogant; thought I was too good…joke was on me. I want to encourage you to be grateful. I really wish I still had a job or a secure means of support especially at this time of year. The holidays will be light but that is Ok.
Now my final reminders to you:
- Scholastic Information is now up and available with a terrific new website, designed by me in my new AAEA job as technology chairman, http://alabamascholastic.webs.com/
- The AAEA will have a new website as well and the address is, http://aaeaonline.webs.com/
- The Alabama Visual Art Alliance Competition will be coming up in February 2010.
- Miniworks exhibition will be in Spring 2010 at Montgomery Academy.
Remember if you need me you can always find me at my websites. http://lynnschmidt.net/ or http://www.tcapa.webs.com/
Mid-Autumn Check Up
Posted onOctober 6, 2009
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Well by this time you all should be into your grove. Some of you may have even had your first grades issued, first parent conferences, and first problems solved and you are moving forward. Please remember the blog forum that is here for you. If you need to vent, or have questions, or just need to share or brag …that is what this forum is here for…YOU. I sometimes feel as though I am talking to myself but since I have been known to do that upon occasion that doesn’t really bother me but I do want to be of help. When we come together at the conference in the fall each year you guys have plenty of questions but you probably have more if you just jot them down on the blog. Remember, I read them before I post them so I will not embarrass you. Last year, my school started a blog for the teachers the problem was that everyone felt self-conscious because they thought their peers were evaluating their intelligence by what they wrote…which they were in fact doing…but that is not the case here. Your question or comment comes to me and I can take your name off and you can be totally anonymous. You could also write it in word, so your spelling will be right and then copy and paste. The thing is you guys have got to get used to using technology to communicate with each other. Your students are leaving you in the dust. You have to stay current or what you are teaching is not practical to the students.
At the Fall Conference in Florence this year at our Secondary Meeting I am going to show you some ways to use technology to improve the promotion of your art program and your art students. I personally am now on Facebook, which my students love, have a You-Tube account, have a JPG account, and have a personal website. I have learned a lot about all of these and am eager and happy to help any of you to get these things going for yourself. Now don’t get me going by saying, “but I only have one computer”. Yeah, well I have been there, done that, kicked tail, took names, and have a t-shirt to prove it all…so you have ZERO excuses. I have helped so many people do this over the phone and with literally one hand tied behind my back. You CAN do this, so DO it.
Remember competition season is starting soon. Please I encourage you to do this for your students. It is so good for their self-esteem. Also, lets do the National Art Honor Society thing too. Remember your special ones are probably not special in any other class. Let them know what they do in your class is as important as what they do in the “academic” classes. Example: my youngest is applying to colleges this Fall and one of the essays she wrote was about being a dance major at Alabama School of Fine Arts. She was recruited in Math and Science but chose to audition and was accepted in Dance. She told the school the things she learned in dance had practical applications to life and life situations that can never be learned in an academic class. Humorously she declared, ” I learned to perform difficult tasks while someone is screaming and cursing at her, I bet my Math and Science friends could not solve difficult equations while someone was screaming at them.” I know you don’t scream at your students but the environment that they problem solving in is not always optimal.
Lastly, colleges are looking for the well rounded student and all the big schools want the ARTS!!!! so lets give it to them and our students.
Back to School or Not
Posted onAugust 23, 2009
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Well your secondary hero, namely me, has not gotten another job but don’t moan and say “Oh that’s terrible” or “Oh I am so sorry” because there are a lot of us out there. Be glad for your job. Be grateful. You are among the employed. As for me, I am still playing with options but will tell you what I have learned.
1. You have to look good on your resume. That is the only way to get that interview in the first place.
2. Come prepared with a CD of your work or student work in some presentation style that is flashy and cool…ie not power point. Leave it with employers. Make one small enough in size so that you can email it to principals with your resume.
3. If you have an MFA you can apply for a college level teaching position…this leaves me out because I have an MSEd not really worth much outside of the teaching realm. Also if you have an MFA you can look for art jobs…you know real art jobs.
4. If you are currently working or recently lost your full time position. If you apply to SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design, you get 1/2 price tuition scholarship. Just let your admissions counselor know you are a teacher. FYI that is what I am doing or hope to do. You can take these classes online with SCAD through their e-Learning program. I will try to tell you about that later when I am fully immersed into it.
5. ALSDE website has an online application for all teaching positions across the state. This is cool because one application and then you send it where it is needed instead of all that guessing and networking. This is a real plus.
6. If you fill out and apply for a position also get online and find something out about the school and send a copy of your resume and that video (see #2) attached or if you have a personal website (not facebook) but a real professional one send them the link also.
Yes, even doing all that you can still not have a position, like your hero…me, but persevere. Keep checking alsde website, sometimes teachers run in fear after the first few days or weeks of school. Be aware however these jobs might not be what you would call choice…LOL (laugh out loud).
Keep up your hopes, keep trying, remember our higher power has something good for us we have to be patient. According to my beliefs in the KJV it says, “Stand and wait upon the Lord”, and “for he who waits upon the Lord today is big with blessings”.
New Bloom’s Taxonomy Puts Creativity at TOP!!!!
Posted onJuly 17, 2009
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New Bloom’s puts Creativity at the top of the pyramid. We all knew it should have been there but now it is verified. Be sure that your Curriculum Specialist at your school or district knows or is aware of this newest format.
This is the old one from 1956 which is over 50 years old. Talk about moving into the 21st century.
A Mid-Summer’s Nightmare?
Posted onJuly 16, 2009
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We are nearing the end of the summer and are sad to see it go, but we are also beginning to think, “What the heck am I going to do next year/” Try something new unique and different or go with the “oldie goldies” that always work? May I suggest starting simple and building from there? Every year I try to include some new ideas to keep my class fresh and new for myself. If you are bored with what you are teaching then it comes across to the students and they are less likely to enjoy the lesson. But how do you judge? Ask yourself the question, “Would I be willing to sit down with the students and do this project?” If your answer is anything but “Yea that would be cool!” then rethink the project. Come up with a new slant, media, medium, or whatever. Another good way to find new ideas is to go to Barnes and Noble or Books A Million and browse the periodicals. Whatever you are interested in and get the latest “skinny” on your favorite medium or experiment with something new. If you find something buy it and then (this is the real trick) go home and write out your lesson plan, rubric, and do your example…NOW. If you wait it will be one of those magazines you find in two years and say, “What is this? Oh yea, I was going to do something new.” Then you will feel really bad about yourself. So don’t do that. Write it up now and put it with your “oldie goldies”. Who knows you might even enjoy it as an artist yourself?
Now to art competitions, I was pleased to see so many names as state winners in many of the competitions that I participated in. I am so pleased that you are giving your students the opportunity to participate in these. They are such big ego boosters for our students. If you think competition is sacrilege in the art classroom please think about how you got your job??? Did you interview? That is a competition. Do you show as an artist? That is a competition. Our students NEED to get used to rejection because not everyone is a winner, no matter what our little league society thinks. One thing you know when you look out at your classroom everyone in there will apply for a job and they won’t get it. They need to be ready for that and competitions help. Anyway the competitions that I already know about are:
· Birmingham Southern College’s Biennial Southeastern Competition which is the new title for the old Southeastern High School Artist Competition. Be careful this year the rules have changed and who can participate has changed. It used to be just 11th & 12th grades but now it is for students 9 – 12th grades. You used to send the art now it is all digital so be sure to get the information. I have it if you don’t so you can email me. I will send it to you.
· NFAA Arts Competition is all done by your student on line there is a cost for it and it is VERY competitive. The student (seniors only) uploads a digital portfolio online of 5 breadth and 5 concentration pieces. (FYI: If you or your students aren’t really good at converting digital images you better learn FAST this is the way everything is going.) Deadline for registering is Oct 1 and sent images Oct 30 at 4pm EST. http://www.youngarts.org
· Scholastic Art & Writing this year will be by districts. The deadline for submission will be one of the last two weekends in January. I will keep you posted.
· Double Exposure will still be happening for those photography students you have. I will let you know the date it is usually the end of Nov.
Well that is everything for now except if you don’t have one yet a National Honor Society Chapter this is the year!!! Do it for your students. You have Art Club already just include NAHS or NJAHS chapter. Second, go to the Fall Conference in November! It is a great way to rejuvenate yourself and share with others. Don’t worry I will nag you later.
Down But Not Out
Posted onJune 22, 2009
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What do you do if you find yourself with out…money, supplies, job, room, or whatever? Cry, curse, call a friend, or all of the above? Well, it might feel good or cathartic to do any or all those things the only thing that will really help is to get in there and work, experiment, and take chances. I know that you feel that you are the only one facing these situations but you aren’t there are others who have “been there, done that, got the t-shirt”. Find them and they will help you even if it is just to give you ideas. This is the time to think outside of the box.
If you need money, find things you can do for free or that cost little to zero money or that use supplies that the school already supplies. Xerox machines for a variety of things, last conference I taught a workshop on handcoloring photographs using students photos, colored pencils, and a xerox. Teresa Gillum taught a workshop on tin can airplanes. Going to the fall conferences is an excellent way to pick up pointers. You could try grant writing. As you can tell I am not the best writer in the world but I have written and received about $17 thousand in grants. How did I start? I googled grants for art. Enjoy.
No job, go online the ALSDE has a terrific postings list at http://www.alsde.edu/TeachInAlabama/ . It is a great place to start. If you have some experience and a Masters degree try sending your resume to some junior colleges or regular colleges or universities. There are opportunities out there just open the doors.
No room? Well that is a tuffy…never experienced that one but…wait once…I looked around for any spare space and ended up teaching in a coal bin in a Victorian mansion. Some times there are little secret places that no one wants you might get it if you ask. I have been in a trailer for a while and that is not all that bad, I have had to tote water in buckets both in and out. It can be done but it is all about your attitude. Remaining positive. Remember it is all about the students and your classes and what they can learn.
I guess that is what you should REALLY do, focus on what you love…teaching art to students, sharing your love of art with people…your passion.
Good Luck next year.
Whoops What Happened
Posted onMay 28, 2009
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This is a subject that needs to be addressed. You wake up, go to your school, and you find out you don’t have a job…pro-ration. I can address this with respect and sympathy because it happened to me. Not tenured, last hired first well you know the rest.
I have heard through the grapevine that 1000 teachers in the arts were let go last week. Wow! what is going to happen to Alabama. Well those of you that still have jobs will certainly have even larger classes and even less money to work with. The good news is you will do it. Right now you don’t think you can but you will because there is that one student in 3rd period/block that comes to school everyday just for your class. Yeah, you know the one or ones I am talking about…the one that you share your own art supplies with or get something for free and you give it to them because you know they will appreciate it. It will be hard but you will do it. As I told a dear friend last year, “Keep the focus on your students and your classroom” and that will always get you through.
Now those of you like me…examine your assets. What do you do well that you might be able to use or do until this mess passes? I don’t know what that might be for you but I trust everyone has some…use them to get you through this rough patch. If you want someone who understands write me or comment. Perhaps your thoughts, fears, or suggestions could help someone. I will protect your identy if you wish me to do so. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I have a very good friend that told me she was so upset about what is happening in our state that she is running for school board in her area. There you go…now thats an idea…
The Day is nearly done
Posted onApril 3, 2009
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Well our year is winding down. We have finished all those crazy shows…we have our winners…and we have those who will always be winners to us and we will carry others in our hearts forever that’s what teaching is all about. Now what do you do? Just slide till the end of the year? As good as that might sound it is usually frowned upon by your administration. Try something fun and different maybe a group mural or group project of some kind; a legacy piece or something of the sort. I always like to evaluate my year…what could I have done better or what do I need to keep…basic teaching housekeeping.
What are you going to do this summer? Try the Alabama Technology Conference. It is fun, cheap, and gives you CEU’s or whatever they are called. http://ti.alsde.edu/aetc/
Many colleges offer workshops for art teachers…SCAD, SAIC, NHIA. (That’s my teaser for you to look them up) If you can’t get into them this year put it on your radar for next year.
What about a chapter of Art Honor Society? Do you have one at your school? Try one for next year. You could even tap your rising Juniors and keep them in your art program their Senior year.
Most of all care for yourself this summer as an ARTIST. Do ART!! It is our life’s blood and if you have not re-tapped into that make it a priority for this summer. Buy a sketchbook and sketch if nothing else. We can not teach art if we do not DO art.
I love you all talk to you later.
Welcome to the AAEA Conference
Posted onOctober 22, 2008
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What is AAEA and what conference? Well if you are reading this online you may be asking these questions. If you are reading this off a xerox then you probably just met me or are meeting me. AAEA stand for the Alabama Art Education Association. The conference is/was in Decatur, AL October 23-25. Why conference? It is a super way to network…old school way…and to learn new things…and to share experiences and exasperation and realize that you are not the only high school art teacher who can not seem to get your students to follow directions (written, oral, etc). It is a super way to get to know what is out there for your students and you as artists…because we are all artists…don’t forget.
This blog site is your connection to me. Who am I? I am the secondary school chairperson for the state of Alabama. If you have any questions about teaching high school art I may not know the answer but I know I know someone who does. I have been teaching 24 years in GA, NC, & AL. I have taught pre-K through college and from the Georgia Retardation Center to highly gifted, inner city, rural, and private. (I get bored easily.) LOL Please feel free to ask me what you need to know. This is a totally safe site and I will never post anything that would embarrass you or if you don’t want it posted. I will only post under first names to maintain your privacy. I love this site because it really allows me to do that. When you write it will not appear until I post it. so be patient. I am very fast though.
Be sure to check here for competition updates. I will try to stay current. If there are any I am missing let me know. I strongly encourage you to participate in these competitions so that you can build your students’ self esteem. I don’t know if your students are like mine but sometimes my best are other teacher’s….not best…shall we say. These shows help them to feel successful about themselves in some area of school and I have seen that be the difference between staying in school and dropping out.
The next thing I want to encourage is for you to start a NAHS chapter at your school (National Art Honor Society). If you are a member of NAEA (National Art Education Association) [you can Google it] that is all you need plus some students who really excel in art. This really works about the same as the competitions for our students in building self-esteem. You should do it for them. If you have an Art Club already just link it to that and make it easier for yourself…just do it.
Well that is it for now. Let me know when I can help you ever.
New Guy!
