From what I have read…
I’ve been hemming and hawing for months about teaching high school art. My brain races in circles when it realizes there is a real possibility that I will carry through with the threat and get my certificate. Hundreds of scenarios fling themselves harshly and relentlessly against the inside of my cranium in response to what teaching would “really be like.” Terror? Yup. Shear joy and fulfillment? Uh huh! Strong desire to hang out with kids and tell teach them what I know? You betcha. Feelings of powerlessness and paralysis? Sure thing! What if I can’t get a long with my boss? What if I can’t deal with parents? What if I go to school for another year and my job completely sucks?
See what I mean?
So what’s my problem? Maybe I have been free to set my own schedule for too long. I have been my own boss for many years, after all. I have scratched along creating paintings and selling them. Sort of make a living at it, too. I’ve heard that there is a lot of paperwork and extracurricular stuff that has to be done all the time. And that the hours are really long. And that vacations are rarely just vacations because you still have to get ready for when vacation is over. All these things make me wonder if I am cut out to teach in such a structured environment. According to my cousin, my problem is that I hate authority—still, after 43 year alive.
Expect to be overwhelmed for the first three years of teaching. If you can make it to five years, you will feel comfortable. That will make me 45 by the time I start to teach, and 50 by the time I feel comfortable. The clock is ticking.
The bureaucracy of a school district is staggering. I would have to answer to assistant principles, principles, curriculum coordinators, superintendents, other high-ranking school bureaucrats, school board members, politicians, parents, the students! Oh my. Right now I answer to me with regard to my career. One level. Easy. As stated before, I have a problem with authority. Could spell disaster for me.
So, what do I have to lose? Two years of preparation and $10-15k in tuition. No money in the mean time. Pretty much where I am now for income unless the art market picks up soon.
What do I have to gain? Maybe the best place I could be in my life. Lots of new experiences. And a steady income for a change.
13. October 2009 um 19:44
Hi Deb!
Thanks for the response. Since I wrote this in August, I have had the chance to sub again. But this time in my local school district. I signed up initially for only high school. The sub caller asked if I would consider middle school too. And I reluctantly agreed. After all, last time I was around middle schoolers was when I was one myself.
After school year started, I got a call to teach an art class—to middle school kids. 7th and 8th graders. Tow days, all day each day. I gulped and agreed to give it a try.
Got there and the regular teacher had stopped in before leaving on her trip. “Thank God!” I thought. At least I’ll have a clue what I am to be doing. She left and I just decided to have a good time and stop freaking. I know all about art, after all, and it was only a couple of days. It turned out to be a HUGE blast! I was totally in the right place. High school is great, and now I was able to add middle school to me repertoire. I had such a great time.
The next week I got another call for art. Except this time it was for a solid week. Cool!
Q: What school?
A: Intermediate.
Q: What grade is that?
A: 4th, 5th, and 6th grade.
[ Big gulp... ]
Sure, I’ll give it a try.
It was BLISS! I never had so much fun in my life! Well, except for keeping things to a dull roar. 4th graders are pretty hard to keep a lid on. Something I’m sure would be easier with my own class But it was so much fun having kids mob me with “Mr. Starks, Mr. Starks!!! Can you show me how to draw a shirt? What do you think of this? Is it all right if I give you a hug?”
Are you serious??? You want to give me a hug?? Of course you can!
Sweet Jesus, thank you for giving me this kind of a platform. Utterly humbling and amazing.
I had kids asking me to be their permanent art teacher. I see kids in the grocery store who yell “Mr. Starks!” down the aisles. I see kids at Kwik Trip who walk by and say, ‘Todd Starks, how are you doing?”
I even taught a 9th and 10th grade Social Studies class and again, I was amazed by the kids and how much I loved being with them in the room. Talking, showing, interacting, laughing and joking. What a great gig! I left there thinking, “I can get paid to do this?”
I am not even exaggerating when I say that teaching is better than art to me. Don’t get me wrong, I truly love art, but teaching is beyond anything I can imagine doing. I can only hope that having my own class can be as fulfilling as the last weeks have been subbing.
So Deb, I really appreciate your words of encouragement and insight, as the working professional you are. And I totally get it. It’s all settled in my mind and I am currently working toward getting past my PRAXIS exams, then I have to take a couple of art studio classes, then on to the UW School of Education for the certificate.
I was built for this. Probably will still go for high school. But I really like all the ages I’ve worked with. My certificate will be for K-12.
Some questions / comments / things overheard from kids:
4-6 grade
Q: Will you be my forever art teacher?
Q: Can we call you Mr. Sharks?
A: No, you may call me Mr. Starks, Peyton.
Q: Can I give you a hug?
A: Of course!!!
Q: (30 minutes later) Can I give you another hug?
A: Sure!!! I love hugs.
Comment: You’re a great sub!
Memorable and funny: Two 6th grade girls poked their heads in on their way out of school at end of the day. “Hi Mr. Starks! Hi Todd Starks! We’re gonna look at your paintings online!!”
9th-10th grade Social Studies:
Memorable: You’re the best sub we’ve ever had!!
“Whatever.” I said. “I mean it! Most subs just bring a book and don’t even talk to us.”
“Wow, thanks!” I said.
Memorable:
Walking into an 11th grade art class. A student that I had seen before in a lecture I gave as a visiting artist the year before.
“Mr. Starks!! My hero! Man, you gave me so much hope last time you were here. Great to have you as our sub!”
I could go on. But it touches me so deeply to have the chance to interact with all kids. They are really truly amazing people.