Casey L. Walker

My Philosophy of Art Education

 

It is my belief that the goal of education should be to help students develop into well-informed, self-realized, successful, active members of society. In the pre-collegiate years of schooling, a main goal of education should be to help each student discover and create who he or she wants to be as a person. I want students to know that their actions have an impact on their world and on the lives of others. Students should be empowered to create change, to be able to look around and see what is wrong, and then to take action to make it right. 

 

Knowledge is something that should be shared as thoroughly as possible, through both conventional schooling and social interactions. I feel that classrooms should provide a safe, constructive environment rich with resources for the emotional, personal, and academic growth of students. Teachers should encourage students to think, ask questions, and experiment, so that learning may take place through intellectual inquiry, creative expression, and trial and error. 

 

As an art teacher, I hope to provide a classroom that acts as a kind of sanctuary where students can thrive and let go of the negativity and pressure of their everyday lives. I hope that by teaching in a positive, open-minded, lively atmosphere, I will be able to instill in my students an appreciation for art, as well as an understanding of diversity, individuality, and healthy means of expressing themselves. 

 

Life is an artistic process; it’s not about “finding” yourself, it’s about creating yourself. That’s what I hope to help my students do.