Artists Ted Kincaid and Michael Tole are bringing knowledge of historical art techniques into the contemporary classroom. And their students are teachers.
“We are in favor of thinking of yourself as an artist who teaches and not an ‘art teacher’. You learn the skills and you will then be able to translate them to the kids in the classroom,” said Kincaid of his methodology.
Tole and Kincaid’s progressive, content-specific staff development class is designed to reinvigorate instruction of the visual arts in the secondary classroom.
“Teachers have told us after they take our class that they totally teach differently because we taught a whole methodology rather than just a lesson, or a thing,” said Kincaid.
Both Kincaid and Tole are advocates for keeping arts in education curriculum and the impact it can have on improving children’s educational experience and testing aptitudes.
Classes such as this are a real treat for teachers, especially given today’s current battle waging for school funding for the arts.
One teacher, Trinity High School Art teacher Carloyn Allen, lent her classroom to the duo and said they teach how she feels, starting with lessons that cover basic skills.
She is passionate about what she, Kincaid and Tole preach.
“Art is the basis of society. If people don’t respect beauty and if they don’t respect the inner spirit of man, then there is a real problem. Also, art is higher level thinking skills. Art isn’t an automatic that just comes through your head out your hands and onto the paper,” said Allen.
