|
|
Lindsay Mouyal
Philosophy of Education
“Art is why I get up in the morning, but my definition ends there.”
~Ani Difranco
That one statement made by singer Ani Difranco hits so close to home for me. For me, creating is just as natural as breathing. My passion for art is very much a part of my life. However, I did not discover this passion until later in life. As a teenager I was not exposed to art until my junior year of high school. Art is so important to me now that I cannot imagine my life without it. ... read more I enjoyed my art classes in high school, but something was missing. That something was art history. As one of my college art professors told me, in reference to the importance of art history, “you have to know the rules before you can break them.”
I believe that every child needs a nurturing environment to explore different methods of self-discovery through art education. I like to infuse each art lesson with art history. This not only makes it more enjoyable for the children, but also helps them make important cultural connections and gain an appreciation for art that can be found only through art history. I like to see the art room as a positive environment where children can use their creativity as a means of self-expression. I absolutely love how there seems to be no ends to what art can achieve. Everyday when I enter the classroom, I know that there are endless possibilities of interactions and creations for my students and me to share.
Being that technology is so much a part of our society today, I feel that it is important to include it in the classroom. Some ways that I intend to infuse technology into my daily lessons is through teacher instruction, student activities, and student assessment. Even younger children that may not have mastered spelling can type up critiques or explanations of their artwork. The emphasis here is the use of the computer, not the spelling. I really feel by exposing children to technology at a young age it will encourage them to embrace it and foster a positive technological foundation for their future.
The wonderful epiphany I had a couple of years ago is that not only do I have a strong passion for art, but I also have an intense passion for teaching to match it. In teaching, I see my classroom as not only a place for artmaking, but also a vehicle for students to look at themselves in a more intimate way. Sometimes, through art, we are able to communicate aspects of ourselves that might go overlooked elsewhere. Art is the only subject that uses the same language no matter where it is; the visual language of art. Art also creates wonderful opportunities for innovative interdisciplinary education that allows children to make important connections. I enjoy presenting an art lesson in a more holistic way by encompassing other subjects into the lesson.
Since I have been teaching, I have continued to grow and learn which, in turn, has really fostered my love of learning. There was a time in my life that I wondered if I would ever have a job that I truly loved and didn’t feel like was a job. I feel wonderfully blessed to have found my love and gift for teaching. Now, not only is art why I get up in the morning, teaching is why I live too! In the words of someone I greatly admire, Pablo Picasso, “Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
|
