But, when the request went out to the crowd for a student to say something, I had no idea what I would say.
While rallys are great for bringing awareness to a specific issue and drawing a crowd, do they actually encourage dialogue?
At one point, actually a few points, there were references to what is going on in Wisconsin. In case you need a refresher, in a nutshell, the powers that be are trying to get rid of the Union's right and Teacher's right to collective bargaining. Meaning it would be nearly impossible for a teacher to bargain on contracts. The state would decide on the contracts and probably create a situation where every teacher had the same terms, regardless of many factors.
Im not so sure that a comparison was warranted. What I do want to say in regards to Wisconsin is that states are in trouble financially, and I understand taking drastic measures to deal with budget issues. However, Education, Health Care, and social programs that help people are not the places to make cuts. Do not take power away from teachers or even schools for that matter. That move will end bad I promise. In an ideal world, I feel that Unions are middle people who get in the way of communication between schools and teachers. Schools should be doing what is best for the students and productivity of the school, and therefore need to be employed by smart, able-bodied administrators. Each school should be able to react to their environment and that environment will differ from school to school. Communication and empathy are so crucial moving forward.
Which brings me back to the rally. I need to hear both sides, and need to understand the situation better. While I want teachers to have environments that facilitate greater learning opportunities, I also understand the need to make cuts in a financial burden. I also value having diversity among the educators, and employing part-time teachers is a way of having that, so taking away their classes is a hurtful move. I think it is fair to ask more of our teachers, especially during a crisis. If they can work more to preserve their jobs, and other's jobs, then that should happen.
The sign above, created by the talented Todd Irwin reads, "Don't Threaten Quality Education." A fellow student replied to that, DUH!
The financial crisis in America is making it harder on everyone. Cuts are going to be necessary, but what many Republican movements are doing is just idiotic and irresponsible. How could anyone want to cut programs that fund education such as PBS or NPR, organizations that I happen to love and use as a teacher daily. How could an intelligent mind want to shut down places like Planned Parenthood who save lives and help people get the needed healthcare. Is it not ironic that the same people who fight agains the programs that bring health to the population like Planned Parenthood, also feel it unnecessary to provide health care to the masses? I am growing tired of politics, but these kinds of movements must not prevail. Yes, the nation's budget is hurting, but none of these cuts to important programs leave the United States in any better of a situation, both financially and socially.
Enough about that here is some art work.
This one reminds me of my wife.
This is done by Eric Otto, an artist I am finding much inspiration in these days.
Art with nails. Pretty amazing.
Before I go I wanted to point out a crystallizing moment that happened recently in one of my classes. A student who is an ESL learner and might also have a few learning disabilities as well has been struggling in my classes. She finds it hard to understand my instruction and often stares into space while other students work hard. Currently, we are working on abstract, urban collages and I have drilled into them the mantra, "I create art through destruction," a Rauschenberg quote.
The idea is that they can never make a wrong move, or choice in their art. The process is about spontaneous choices, expressive mark making and adding layers. If they do not like an area they can always go over it again.
This particular student was at a turning point in her work and unhappy with the present result. I tried through words to get her to understand how she could develop the piece more, but she was unwilling. So, I took a brush, soaked it into some orange paint (never a bad color) and applied quick, expressive strokes onto her work. She shrieked in horror as she claimed I was destroying her work. I referred to the mantra of the assignment and continued to add value and movement to her work. I asked he to pay attention to the way I was directing my brush around her canvas and then I left her with a new color and a new brush. The I said, since I have already ruined your work you shouldn't have to worry about making it worse. Have fun with the paint and I will check back in a moment.
When I came back she was celebrating over her beautiful work of art. She was excited and happy with the new result of her hard work. She told me to look at how beautiful the colors were on her canvas and how images could still be seen behind the paint. I think this might have been a breakthrough.
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