To Teach: What you can learn from comics?

Blog:. Describe the challenges and opportunities that Bill faces in the schools and discuss examples from the comic he shares that you learned from? What examples did he share to inspire you to be the difference in schools today? (back it up with supported evidence). How can you use comics and graphic novels in your classroom to express ideas like Ayers did (look at Williams article)?

The beginning of the graphic novel, Bill discusses what is and what is not teaching. Bill’s first challenge begins with being overwhelmed by the pure curiosity of his kindergarten class, asking why this, why that (As many young kids do.) I am comforted in the thought of being an explorer, rather than a master, kind of teacher who will not have every answer but is ready to go on the journey to find the answer.

Along that journey, students are faced with a lot of labels that can hinder their learning. (On Page 30) one of Bill’s students (Quinn), addresses that he had been labeled with Hyperactive Disorder. I was inspired by the way Bill took the opportunity to talk about labels in a positive way. I like the way he puts it, saying,” We all have lots of things we’re good at and other things we’re learning to do better.” Along with students seeing the good in themselves, I think it is important for us as teachers to also see the good in our students and not just bad behaviors.

While reading this book I found there were many inspiring quotes within the book, however I found this one to be most moving. Bill discusses the up and downs of teaching and says, “Even the most committed, caring teachers will make mistakes along the way, but they won’t be disastrous. Teaching at its best is not a matter of technique- it’s primarily an act of love.” For me, I found this quote to be inspiring to me as a future teacher. To think of teaching with no clear path, there will be mistakes, but we (as teachers and students) will learn from them to become even better teachers and students.

I have never been into comics or graphic novel, but after reading To Teach and El Deafo, I am more interested in picking up another book like this. I think these books have a nice way of describing and illustrating. I think that technique could be powerful in the classroom, by not only visually describing something but also putting it in words. I think it would also be beneficially to do a comic lesson with students because they would not be limited only to the one page to express their ideas, they have lots of boxes within in the page(s). I could also see this being helpful in making a stop motion video, for students to layout the film scene by scene.

Communication and Understanding

1. What do you think the problem was with the community in the chapter 12 story that caused Mrs. Clark to have no support with her pinwheels for peace project?

I feel the issue had more to do with misinterpretation and miscommunication between school and community. I think if the art teacher was to be more clear on their purpose and reason for the art project it would have not been misinterpreted. I understand where both sides are coming from, I just wonder if both the art teacher and the community have really thought about each others point of view. I wonder if a town meeting would help, in which the art teacher could express her goal for the project. Those that disagree with the project could explain their side and maybe discuss a compromise. I like this quote, “People looking in from the outside, will almost always have it misconstrued.” I think it is important in our future endeavors that we communicate efficiently and keep an open mind to others opinion.

2. Take some time to search the for some art advocacy resources. Attach the link to a resource you think the class would find helpful in their own art advocacy efforts as an art educator.

https://www.incredibleart.org/links/artedu.html (This website has a lot of important reasons for why art is important. Also the 1st video is very inspiring, 2nd video weirdly funny)

https://www.arteducators.org/advocacy

3. What made you want to become an art teacher? Why do you feel it is important for students to have art class in school? If someone was to ask you what your students learn in art class what would you tell them? (think about those questions) Now work on your elevator pitch for why the arts are essential and post what you would say to someone in under one minute!

I have had some amazing teacher role models in the past and the impact that they have had in my life has been inspiring. I have always really enjoyed art and through many experiences in my life I have found that nothing would be more rewarding than sharing my love for art with others through teaching. Art is important because students learn ways to express oneself, ways to imagine more than one right answer, ways to tell stories, ways to promote change, it gets the viewer to self reflect and overall art makes the world a better place. With such an important role in our world, how could we possibly live without art?

Expressing Identity

The chair exhibit discussed in the chapter received great attention (both positive and negative). Have you ever experienced your art being vandalized or shamed? If yes, explain the situation and how it made you feel. If not, explain what you would do if you were placed in this situation or if this happened to you as a teacher of students (like the author of this chapter).   

           Unfortunately at times, some art, the viewer may not feel compelled to linger with long enough to understand it or give enough time to ask questions. For example, recently I went to the Des Moines Art Center, where Susan Collis has a exhibit currently displayed called Without You The World Goes On. I personally did not find it interesting to me it just looked like supplies used on a house painting job and I walked on by. However, later when our class talked about the exhibit I found I complete took the work for granted. All the little drips and scraps were all hand made, she had hand-stitched embroidery in a drop cloth to look like paint drips. I found I had missed a whole lot by thinking the work was nothing more than material for the paint crew.

I think for the Aura Art Club that they were also not understood and probably had viewers with closed minds before walking into the exhibit. Like the vandalism on the Aura Art Club posters, who wrote, “Shame on You, AAD” or the negativity for the public about the Black Widow Spider chair portraying aggression, these viewers should have asked more questions and came with an open mind. In which case, perhaps if there were articles written by the Aura Art Club before, during, or immediately after, to explain the importance of the artwork and the impact may help to get more understanding.

  “For many non-Muslim students, the only exposure they get to Islam is through the news media and the associated stories of terrorism, war, and issues regarding the violation of women's rights” (Mirza and Bakali, 2010). How will you, in a future classroom, whether you have any Muslim students or not, help to debunk stereotypes and expose your students to Islam?       

I feel the multicultural lessons could help students build a better understanding of a region and the group of people that live there. Also, if you have connections to a friend that happens to be muslim may also help students to have first hand interaction versus you the teacher talking about muslims. It would also be good to explain to the students the differences between Arabic, Muslim, and Islamic. I for one do not think I had understood the differences before this article.

 Imagine that a future student of yours has a controversial piece and other students did like it. Could you support them in the same way? How would you go about supporting them? Write a short paragraph about how you would support that student, or why you wouldn’t support that student.  Post a reputable artist who might be introduced in your curriculum to help all students see Muslims in a positive light. Here is Shirin Neshat's Ted Talk as an example.

(As long as the artwork was not breaking any school policy) I would be supportive of the student and their artwork. I would hang the artwork, however I would also be prepared to speak up for the artwork if it came in question by a parent or administration. I think, in order to build a positive relationship and environment in your classroom it is important for the students to feel safe and welcome to express themselves in the classroom. Like the Aura Art Club, with the help of art the student were able to freely express themselves and their identity. Artwork also is suppose to get people talking and that is exactly what a controversial art piece would do.

Artist listed below

Boushra Y. Almutawakel: The artist photographs the similarities between women wearing makeup and women wearing hijab (veil) are both ways to concealing their face.

http://muslima.globalfundforwomen.org/content/hijab-veil-series