: trina - Viewing Profile

These kinds of threads drive me crazy... I just have to respond. But, I'm also in class right now, but my students are working on their final exam projects... so, I will give it a shot (keep in mind, I've already been interrupted five times.).

I am an artist! I am a teacher (high school, art, particularly ceramics, sculpture and 3-D Design)... and a proponent of a new, soon to be paraphrased statement, "If you can't do it, you can't teach it!". And, given my unique circumstances, I may offer some unique insight to this topic. (sit down, this might take a while).

I grew up in a house with a teacher (math and science), and hearing the arguments at the dinner table over money was enough for me to decide that I would never teach anything! But sometimes, the right fit finds you and not the other way around... and for me, "teaching" was the right fit. How I got there was not how most people get there (and I do, to some extent, agree with what you have to say on that matter.). I went to college to become an artist (at a very reputable school), I earned a BFA in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Ceramics... I have a degree in clay, simply put. And the options for jobs are minimal... so, I went to grad school to earn an MFA in ceramics... to become a professor, like the thousands before me. Only thing... An MFA program is not set up to teach you how to teach, they just hand you opportunities to gain teaching experience in a "sink or swim" fashion. Being young (for an MFA), I dropped out after two years in a three year program. #snowboardbum for a couple years afterward, being bumped from clay studio to factory to summer camps... I've done it all, just about.

At the urging of my mother... I would once again, go back to school... this time, to become a teacher! Most schools offer a "conversion" program for degree students, it's a tag-a-long of educational practices and pedagogy (along with student teaching) that accompany your previously earned degree in your content area. In my opinion, it's the only way teachers should be trained. Content first! Pedagogy second, but you must have both. Educational certification is monitored by the "state". I don't know where you live.... or what state you reside in... or how they go about certifying teachers... and the fact that they pay for some of these courses for you, probably means you're in a nicer place than me. But it's not "states" that make teachers... it's not pedagogy... it's not years... classes... credits... or studio time.

Great teachers make great teachers! And, I have had my fair share... at every grade level throughout... each remembered by name... and modeled after... all with different qualifications, all with different strengths... all with content knowledge! I am an artist because of what I have learned... but I am a teacher because of who taught me. We teach art... why or how... because we were taught by someone. What makes clay/potters unique is, well... working in clay is as old as time... and teaching others how to work in clay has continued since it's inception... in other words, we have the longest line of teachers than any other profession... and one of the proudest lineages that can be followed back almost forever. Who taught you?

So... to answer your inquiry... how long should a program be to teach art teachers... eternity sounds good. I still learn everyday...

As far as creating art... I'm always doing that, not nearly as much as I would like... but I have summers off, and I create in my classroom (quick and fast way to earn students respect)... I have a studio in my basement... I rebuilt my own kiln... my wife bought me a wheel... and I consider my lucky to be in the position that I'm in... because, I don't just make work... I make what I want to make... no stress from the demands of production to make a living, or show deadlines... no "rep" to continue, locked into one easily identifiable style that people associate with me and me only... I am a free artist...

And teaching? I've been teaching high school ceramics for ten years... I've had over a thousand students... that's like almost 4 thousand pinch-pots! I have had tens of students go on to art schools... several who have earned BFA's... four in ceramics... with five master's in Art education... and one owner/operator of a community ceramics studio! And one can not do that if one can not do what they teach.

More importantly, I have always considered myself an artist first... I plan to teach for 20 years (half way done already)... then end as an artist once again!

It's all just how you view your "paradigm".

One of the things I have learned over a long period id is color is SUPER important (that is it all needs to match . You should fire them all together in same spot.
This is especially true in high fire reduction and as you just found out matters at lower temps to some degree.-I still like the work but if you want it all the same then make it all over and fire all together same shelve area.
Mark

trina, on 15 June 2013 - 07:46 AM, said:

I was afraid that would happen. You probably have a better chance of making the darker ones lighter than the other way around. Good luck with the new tiles.

Jim