: meisie - Viewing Profile

Eh, there's a lot of factors, really, that will ultimately affect how 'functional' the work is. I'll admit, I'm not familiar with Standard earthenware clays, the little bit of earthenware I've worked with was not very useful for kitchen ware. I think I could have said it better by saying TEST the clay/glaze combo first and see if it will work for something like mugs, and if it turns out it won't, THEN steer the students toward something like flower pots where it won't matter as much if the piece seeps a bit.

I was basing the 'WON'T vitrify' on the firing range the OP gave, at cone 04 its probably NOT vitrified, but maybe it is at the upper end of cone 3. And students frequently don't get a good coat of glaze on work until their third or fourth piece.

ANYWAY you do it meisie, a test run using your planned firing schedules is a good idea, even if you're just firing a few pieces in a mostly empty kiln.

This is wonderful. Be sure to pay close attention to safety and of course you know that you must ventilate. Also there are some chemicals that are unsafe for children and child bearing age women to be exposed to such as cobalt, and copper and there are others please be sure to get all of the information you can so that you and the kids will be safe.

Amaco has lots of information for teachers working with clay and children. Please avail yourself of it. Be safe and do good work and have fun. I am so happy for you and especially for the kids.

Don't forget at some point to have a Pottery Show and invite the whole school, near by schools, PTA, parents and local politicians. Make up a program and cards to identify the children whose work is on display and thank all the folks who gave the funding. God bless you all.

The labels are correct, as are you in regards to Cone 04 being a higher temperature than 06.

Low fire clay does not vitrify like mid to high fire clays, which is why they require glaze/ underglaze to seal them. Otherwise, they would still be porous and liquids would slowly seep through.

So they second firing does not need to be as hot, as it just needs to melt the glaze.

Writing is the ultimate slap in the face to lefties for multiple reasons. For one, if you use liquid ink, you either have to drag your hand through it, or adopt the awkward curved, over the top writing style. Second, desks are designed for the right handed. So lefties have to sit oddly in the desks to use the writing surface.

In my area, the arts were the first cutbacks--followed quickly by music. Seems like the only classes of any import are science and math. The "powers that be" can't or won't realize that if students are to be innovators in the math and science fields, they must also be exposed to and take part in the arts otherwise they will be unable to think "outside the box".

About five years ago, a small group of investors/parents who were alarmed by the lack of creativity offered in the public schools started a private school that would emphasize the arts. Sadly, after two years they were tottering on the brink of bankruptcy. They had the interest, a good bit of the money, but no expertise in setting up and running a school. In stepped another group of people--retired educators, more concerned parents, investors with a vision, some good curriculum and money managers. They recruited some local artists, musicians, and academics, all interested and dedicated to the idea of making it work. It started out as a grades 9 through 12 arts high school, and now enroll students from K-12. The idea must have stirred a lot more interest than first thought, because now it is one of three schools offering college prep courses in academics and the arts.

The public schools are foundering because the basis of their teaching is so tied to tests. They teach classes that will show well on the standardized tests. Federal snd state funds are closely tuned to these tests, and none of the tests are tied to the arts. Pity.