Just One Dream

I was sitting in a theatre in Southern California this past summer when a song came across the sound system. The text was significant in many aspects of my life, as I have always been a dreamer. Here is a piece of it for you.

One dream: we come from everywhere with just one dream. One day I still believe that if we can see the possibilities the world can be a better place. So many miracles are happening around us everyday. Look to the mountaintop, to cross the mountain in your way. Side by side, Heart to heart we can finish anything we start. Anything can be done with just one dream.

I have shared much about dreaming and visions over the past year in this column. I also advocate members of our profession behaving in a way we atypically do. That is work together side by side in pursuit of a unified goal---one dream. Visual artists are isolationists, however there are many miracles that we can do together. I still believe that is essential in our profession’s forward movement and growth.

Last January we were beginning a new era in Pennsylvania, with many changes on the horizon in the world of education K-16 and beyond. What an era it has been! Issues of certification to school funding to curriculum and standard integration, etc it has been a roller coaster ride for art education over the past 12 months and it appears that we will not be able to disembark this ride yet.

Art education programs have endured or have been beaten and battered. Quality, standards based and well-taught programs have endured and in some cases flourished in this environment. This does not require sacrifice of deep-rooted beliefs and pedagogy in art education theory and practice. It did require working as a team or in the team model with other professionals or other curricular areas. How does art education improve PSSA scores in Language Arts and Mathematics? How does your art education program improve these scores? Have you met with colleagues in these areas to see what parallel teaching you are doing in these areas? And have you answered the essential question…Why is art education and art skills essential in student learning? If you have not personally addressed these questions, add that to your list of resolutions for 2004.

In this new calendar year you will see some dreams started by members of the PAEA Board of Directors come to fruition. These include the exciting Art Educator as Artist in Residence Program, the annual Youth Art Month Exhibition at the PDE building, and the 2004 Conference in Lancaster, and more. Regional Representatives and Division Directors are working on delivering their dreams of programming and professional development opportunities. Some dreams on this web site will continue to morph and grow into opportunities for you: the professional art educator. We invite you to be with us side by side in seeing these dreams come true.

I also challenge you to take a reflective look at your teaching, your program, and your curriculum within the next few months. Are you doing the very best you can for the students you serve? Does your program reflect a high quality program that your students deserve? How do your constituents, their families, administration, and the like feel about the quality of the program you are delivering? How do you advocate quality art education within the reaches of your professional position? Do you have any dreams that you can see come through in 2004?

Take some time to dream and make a resolution to teach your students the very best you can in the coming year and beyond. PAEA is committed to help you in this very important job.

It’s all about instruction and learning.

Tom Kelchner