Professor George
Szekely (University of Kentucky) observes that it is often the
teacher who decorates learning spaces – the teacher designs the
bulletin boards, decorates the door, pins up the posters, hangs the
mobiles. In doing so, the teacher “owns” the space. Szekely urges
teachers to share the learning spaces in school – to look for ways
to allow students to “do the decorating.”
I delight in
observing ways in which students take ownership of their art studio.
Here are some recent examples:
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| "Best Class Ever" farewell sign for the art studio door from a departing 6th grade class |
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| "Z" (grade 5) up on the counter to hang his "Bird Flock" for display |
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| Large Origami Balloon by "R" (Grade 5), competes for ceiling space with projector & power cord |
...and an old favorite:
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"Art is Amazing" banner sign by "L" - made at grandma's and carried into school in parts when she was a 5th grader (now an 8th grader)
Probably one reason
kids love choice-based art programs so much is because they get to
take back a little of the control adults so casually assume throughout
the school each day. Walk through the halls of your local school and
see what you observe. No doubt there will be lots of student work on
display, but whose choice is it to display this work?
Typical Choice-Based Art Display - Mounted artwork with "artist's statements" attached.
In our
Choice-Based Art program, students decide whether or not their
finished work will be displayed – just as do practicing artists.
Often students also determine where and how their work
is displayed, and for how long.
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