Giselle Stone
Philosophy of Art Education
28 April 2011
My ideal art room is a productive place of inspiration, creativity, problem solving and inward exploration. I believe the art classroom can be a place where students of all ages can explore new areas of integrated academics as well as safely grow intellectually and emotionally. I want students to be able to ask the hard questions, not only of themselves, but also of their peers and the world around them.
I strive to incorporate an aspect of inward development in all of my unit plans. This can take place in the creation of the artwork as well as the assessment. Students should be challenged to explore and process their own emotions and personal opinions. Art, as a form of visual communication, can allow students who struggle verbally or socially to express difficult feelings and experiences.
I believe, especially as Alaskans, that our students need to be challenged and pressed to perceive the world in new ways. I want to be able to expand students’ worldly knowledge by introducing them to new artists, new places and new cultures. Students should be able to explore the way other artists approach the world and how they people connect aspects of their own life and culture through the arts. I would hope to encourage students to listen to another individual’s beliefs and begin to open themselves to other cultural beliefs about works of art.
Inspiration and motivation from peers can be a powerful tool, especially with secondary students. I want students to be able to turn to their peers and challenge them to think creativity and uniquely. Fostering these positive discussions among peers can lead to students who ask more questions and collaborate better with other students. Displaying art in the school can initiative conversations that wouldn’t normally occur in a school setting.
