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Re: [teacherartexchange] Political Opinions & Art Assignments


From: Marvin Bartel (marvinpb_at_TeacherArtExchange)
Date: Sat Sep 09 2006 - 06:18:29 PDT

More people really need to be involved in national politics, but there are other forums specifically for this. In my opinion this group is better off focusing on the methods, problems, and politics of schools and classrooms as they relate to the teaching and learning of art. Of course everything is connected to everything else, but If the group is side-tracked too much into national politics, those who come here for ideas about teaching art will tune out.

What if this group would discuss the merits and methods of a topic centered art assignment related to the pros and cons of living in a diverse vs. a homogeneous neighborhood?

Does anybody teach such an assignment? What works? What problems do you encounter? What guidelines are useful when dealing with controversial issues? What does art teach about the difficulties and merits of diversity and about tolerance? How can we help our students learn to understand politics, survival, and success in life through their art? How does the socioeconomic make-up of the school relate to the success of such an assignment?


Art can be about anything--even the opposite of the cliche.

> I agree with not putting political opinions on the list. But, often it can not be
>helped. My own comments and yours about proudly teaching all who walk through
>the doors is a political opinion as well. So we can't chastise someone who voices
>an opinion just because we find it offensive.
> Woody
>On Sep 6, 2006, at 9:08 PM, Gabrielle Bliss wrote:
>>It was my understanding that political opinions were not welcome on the list.
>>Hate speech and racism are not welcome anywhere. Please keep it off the list.
>>Gabrielle in Minnesota- proudlt teaching all who walk through the doors of public education
>>From: Shannon McGraw <>
>>>The answer is to stop giving the candy store away to illegals. I feel
>>>sorry for teachers in Calif. and Texas and elsewhere. I was in one of
>>>those schools a couple of years ago...thank God, I'm in a great
>>>illegals are destroying this country and invading everything including
>>>our schools at such numbers...who can teach them? If we don't stop it
>>>and get a breather like we did in the '20's, it's only going to get
>Woody, Retired in Albuquerque
>35 Quality Middle School Art Lessons
>Ordering Address: PO Box 91703
>Albuquerque, NM 87199-1703
>?The function of the overwhelming majority of your artwork
>is simply to teach you how to make the small fraction
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