Teaching Philosophy & Advocacy
As an art educator, I want to help students become successful members of society; they will be able to learn how to think critically in situations with behavior, lessons, and professionalism in the classroom. Students will have mutual respect from their peers and I. They will be able to learn and create in a safe space where they can benefit from each other’s perspectives. My students will set their own goals and fulfill them in and outside of my classroom. Students who struggle with underestimating their outcome will be given the encouragement and tools they need in order to succeed. All students can learn with the proper motivation. I will follow this philosophy in order to help my students learn how to construct their own identity, shape future communities, and foster diversity to make a successful and constructive classroom.
According to a longitudinal study, by the National Endowment for the Arts, it found numerous positive outcomes for students who regularly study art. The research found those who take art courses become recognized for academic achievement, are elected to class office, show higher accomplishments in math and science, win an academic or school-based award, attend college, choose a professional career, regularly read a newspaper, volunteer in their community, and vote. These are goals that I will strive for in my classroom; my students will be able to educate themselves and strive for ambitious tasks. This survey includes 73% of Americans believe that building the capacity for imagination is just as important as academics in school and 91% of American think that arts are essential to building the capacity for imagination. Through these statistics I will advocate for arts which create life-long learning experiences. Art education can also provide students with 21st century skills, along with greater achievements in high school and college. Students have a fundamental ability for creating art. Art is one of the most important ways people express their view of the world. Art educator, Viktor Lowenfeld, said, “The teacher’s primary role is to expand the students’ frame of reference.” This doesn’t mean always starting at the level of the student. Instead, it challenges the student to achieve higher goals and encourages them to explore new possibilities and additional ways to critically think. I expect students to be curious, to act upon their own intellectual ambition, and to reflect on their own learning experiences with the skills and knowledge that they have at their current level of development. I view my role as one of revealing, stimulating, and mentoring my students’ own knowledge by helping them grow in their capacity to advise and amplify their own thinking and learning. I want to provide a foundation for my students that will help them as they mature as artists, individuals, and community members. Through their education as an artist, critic, and reflective observer they will gain experience that will aid them in their current classes and future endeavors. It is my belief, that through experiences in my class, students will come to know the importance of the visual arts in today's society and how it enhances our daily life. |
Hanna Brown © 2018