From: Wayong-AT-aol.com
Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 17:56:26 -0400
Subject: PUPT: arts in the school system, etc.


Actually, I have thought of elaborating my workshops & philosophies & compile them into a book.  I have many project & book ideas in my brain storage. :-P (it's just that when you are unemployed & have no money to pay your bills, wondering when the men in black are going to haul you off for your lack of funding, scrounging & borrowing money to eat ramen noodles & bananas, it's really, really hard to focus on art & projects!! I'm sure some of you were there at some point- kudos to you I don't know how you survived) 

Anyhoo, how did we get on topic of this anyway?  Oh yeah, the state of the arts in schools & our society.  I don't think the original poster intended to mean that there is no creative work going on in schools - at all, but that from that person's experience, she saw that in her community that the art was very limited & confining in materials & ideas.

Christopher - you mentioned that the responsibility is of the teacher...however, in working with the school systems, with kids, social workers, teachers, parents, I would have to say that the problem is more global.  Many art/other teachers are not 'equipped' to teach, due to poor training programs that often focus on philosophy and history rather than practicality.  Those who succeed often have an amazing amount of stamina and charisma. Many school systems are super strapped for funding and tend to assume that teachers will work within limitations & lack of money for supplies.  I often hear teachers being very frustrated, angry, burnt out, pulled in many directions and then feel resentful that they have to spend their own money on art supplies. (hmm... not too different from therapists)  Often, they have to struggle to pay for drawing materials, let alone materials for puppets and masks. (next year, Bush stated teachers can deduct upto $250 for supplies. whoopie. that doesn't make a dent. but that's it unless you have a miscellanious job)

When budget comes to crunch, music & arts programs are first to go.  So are school counselors and any other extra programs.  I went to the second richest school district in the country as a kid.  While they were talking about designing state of the art science labs and 'lap path' above the gym floor, we were using ancient texts for English, buying our own books for creative writing, buying our own supplies for art & got the chair and stool rejects from the district for our art room.

On the other hand, our teachers said our district was blacklisted from some major art funders (their words)due to belief that we were all wealthy kids (which was not entirely true) & don't need scholarships. 

And if families weren't supportive of the arts or if a city was too far away, kids don't have the opportunities to take outside art classes at centers or museums.

So the way I see it -is that I commend those teachers who work within these restrictions and I do think it is the responsibility of school districts & gov't to impliment change (yeah, it would be nice if there was less gov't control, but the initial goal should be to increase funding first).  

hey, I wish I could incorporate more puppet talk, but I haven't seen any puppetry in over a year. :-P
I think there's a new book out called "The Secret Lives of Puppets" - has anyone read it?

Wayong


  --- Personal replies to: Wayong-AT-aol.com
  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Archives at:         http://lists.village.virginia.edu/~spoons