First Draft
Art Curriculum Inquiry
CHARACTERS:
Ms. Gardner
Josh
Amy
Background Students
SETTING: A typical American high school Art classroom. Instructions for the various projects the students must complete are scrawled across the board in cramped writing. Off to the side there is a set of cabinet's containing art supplies has some cabinet doors left open. Students are sitting at long tables, working on various drawings and painting. Ms. Gardner, the teacher of course, is walking around the room and watching the students as they work.
GARDNER: OK, class! Everything looks great, keep it up!
JOSH: Hey, Ms. Gardner?
GARDNER: Yes, Josh?
JOSH: I have a question. I've been wondering, what kind of curriculum do Art classes follow?
AMY: (Noticing Josh's question) Yeah, me too! Also, how is art graded?
GARDNER: Those are both good questions, you guys. I'd be happy to answer them for you. You see, Art class follows a curriculum just like any other class you've taken, and will take in high school and college.
(GARDNER walks over to her desk in the corner of the room, and sits down at the computer.)
GARDNER: Here, let me show you...
( JOSH and AMY get up from their seats and walk over to the desk.)
GARDNER: Look at this article, My View: Grading Art in a Standardized Test World, by Katie Lyles, an Art teacher in Colorado.
JOSH: OK, so what does Katie Lyles have to say on the subject?
GARDNER: (Chuckles) Well, she says that Art isn't just “an easy break” for kids during the school day.
AMY: What does she say about grading art?
GARDNER: It says here that she uses a portfolio method to keep track of the students' work, as well as to measure their progress.
AMY: So, basically the same sort of thing you have us do here with our portfolios?
GARDNER: That's right, Amy. It's a very useful way, as Ms. Lyles puts it, to monitor “a student's learning and growth”.
JOSH: That's kinda cool. Are there any articles about what sort of curriculum Art classes follow?
GARDNER: Lets see here... (She begins to type away at the computer)
GARDNER: Ah, yes! Here we go! ( She faces the screen towards JOSH and AMY )
GARDNER: This is an article by Olivia Gude, it's called New School Art Styles: The Project of Art Education. It talks about how maybe, there shouldn't be a curriculum for Art classes.
JOSH: Huh? But didn't you say that Art class has a curriculum just like any other class?
GARDNER: That's right,Josh, I did say that. But in the field of art, freedom is a very favorable quality to many. But as you see here, in the article, student's probably wouldn't be able to utilize that freedom very usefully; not at first anyway.
AMY: I can agree with that, if I was told I could do anything I want on the first day of class, I wouldn't know what to do.
GARDNER: Exactly, which is why the teachers put together a curriculum that isn't too strict, but isn't wishy-washy either. Our curriculum is made up of a series of projects that are picked by the At teachers and then approved by the school.
JOSH: Oh,OK. I see now.
GARDNER: Have I answered your questions, dearly devoted students?
JOSH: Yeah. (smiling)
AMY: Yes, ma'am. ( smiling as well.)
( Off in the distance, the school bell is heard ringing to signal the end of the period. The rest of the students begin to hurriedly put art supplies away and begin to pack up their bags so they can leave for lunch. JOSH and AMY hurry back to their tables to assist in the process. After a moment of rushed packing, the students begin to leave. JOSH and AMY wave good-bye to MS. GARDNER. MS. GARDNER gets up from her desk and begins to wipe away the writing from the board.)
END.