Kiickstart came about in a similar way. In name only, it existed over a year and a half ago. Now it's a new line of art educational resources. The video endeavor began in November 09 when my husband and I created a temporary TV set in our living room and started filming away. With many teachers working in isolation, the need for teaching resources and inspiration is very real.
I will most likely be one of those teachers working in isolation next year. I've had the ideal teaching life for the past seven years working with my colleague, Ellen. Together we taught at the high school and middle school. Our collaborations, conversations and friendship made our teaching, program and our students flourish. Budget cuts have prompted my district to make some extremely difficult choices. The most likely scenario will be the reduction of our district's four art teachers, to three. Resulting in building reassignments and a shifting of teaching responsibilities.
Our high school electives will be slashed from nine class offerings to three. The program and projects that the early kiickstart resources are created from will not exist as they did, and something new will rise up in it's place. Whatever that something is, it looks like I'll be teaching the only three high school art classes and the only middle school art classes offered to the sixth through twelfth grade students in my district. One art teacher for over 1,100 students. Yea, I'd call that isolation.
I'll do whatever I can to make a banquet style program from crumbs. Providing quality education is not just the responsibility of the teachers, but also those who govern. I'd like to give them a kick...
Hi Ms. Kiick,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your views on NJ school budget cuts. In Jr. High, I started acting in the school plays. By my Freshman year in HS, I had worked my way up to lead actor in the One Acts. Theater was one of the first arts to be cut. The theater was reduced to musicals and I don't want to sing. This year there will be an administrative vote as to whether the drama slot will be taken by a musical. I hope a drama is offered this year. Also, I signed up for Graphic Arts and Desktop Publishing and they both were cut. I'm interested in creating art on computers, so I wrote and proposed an independent study. My Guidance Counselor said HTHS doesn't offer independent studies anymore. I can't believe that a student who wants to study computers in the 21st century in a top rated school doesn't offers this options! But luckily your class and photography was available.