The Never Ending Art Education Journey

I am writing this message literally hours before my family and I step on an airplane for our annual summer adventure. Family exploring time has become a very important and essential part of our lives and it has been this way for a very long time. I once read a quote by a very wise person. They wrote “Every year explore someplace new, even if that place is in your own backyard.” My family makes that serious commitment every year and it cannot be displaced by anything else the “schedule” might throw at us.

Although there will be many purposes to and outcomes from this exploration, surely somewhere along this journey there will be connections to art teaching and art education. Our profession follows us all the days of our professional lives. Excellent teachers are always learning. They are always making connections to student learning. It can come in the most unlikely places and the most unusual times. I have developed lesson concepts at the ocean, in the mountains, and through the desert. Connections can come riding a roller coaster or strolling down a historic street. Art educators have this ability and use it in their classrooms. We make connections between art and the rest of the world because in reality it is all connected and at times all one in the same.

It has been a very difficult year for art education in Pennsylvania. The trend is not subsiding soon. We need to be articulate, unified, and steadfast in our vision and journey to make art education and necessary part of every child’s education in this state. We need to listen to one another and help one another at every turn. It is all part of this journey of professionalism.

I read with great interest John Michael Gray’s column in the June 2004 issue of NAEA News. He and I must talk because his points on professionalism in art education, in my opinion, hit it right on. If you have not read it please dig the issue out and ponder his points about professionalism. If we do not think, act, and portray to our colleagues and constituencies the professionalism I know we have, the tough road we have endured will just become tougher and rougher. Long gone are the days of that “strange art teacher” in the basement making art with the kids. Also gone are the days where that art teacher just sits back and lets the world happen to her. We need to be vocal and visual advocates of what we do, how we do it, and how it connects to the rest of the world.

Professionalism needs to be nurtured from the beginnings of people’s journeys into this profession. In my position I have the opportunity to review literally hundreds of job applicants. During my latest rounds, I was extremely surprised by the obvious lack of professionalism and commitment on the part of a large number of applicants. From lack of writing skills (spelling, grammar, making sense) to the inability to communicate the what, why, and how of art education these applicants are seemingly lost and/or misdirected. It is clear that many people attempting to enter art education are viewing it as a job and not a profession. We need to model professionalism in every aspect of our career so young art educators will have excellence as a role model. Share part of your professional life with an up and coming future art teacher.

It is my hope that you will have the opportunity to take a journey in the upcoming weeks. Take some time to be with family, friends, and fellow professionals. Take some time to look at some art, talk about art, think about art, and make some art. Your students will be glad that you did.

It’s all about instruction and learning.

Tom Kelchner