Continued from “Safety as a Priority”
on page 47.
H
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Patricia Huntress
Thereflectionofmyselfinthe rialsthatcanbeusedintheart aidkitthatshouldbeaccessible “lookingglass” remindsme classroom.Asartteachers,most andvisibleinyourroom.Introduce dailyoftheaccidentsthat ofusknowthechemicalstoavoid themtoeachiteminthefirstaid canhappenatschool.Inmy inthestudentenvironment.Itis kitandaskthemquestionsonhow
eighthgrade Englishclasswhenthe ourresponsibilityasartteachersto thoseitemsmightbeused.Referto
teacheraskedustotakeoutour includesafetyinformationinevery activitiesandmediastudentswill
pencilsforapopquiz,thestudent lessonplanandinformeachstudent beusingduringtheyear.Remind
behindmereachedovermyshoul- ofthesafetyprecautionstheymust studentsoftheseitemseachtime
derandgrabbedmypencil.How takewitheachactivitywithout youintroducealesson.Itmayseem
dareshe!Iwasnotgoingtoletthat deprivingthemofthejoyofcreat- monotonousbutitcouldsaveastu-
happentome!Iturnedaroundand ingart. dentfrominjury.
grabbeditrightbackbutshedidnot
letgo.Ourtug-of-warresultedwith Material Safety Data Sheets Medical Conditions
thepencilinmypossession.Unfor- Legallyyoumustkeepareadily Itiscriticaltoknowwhatallergies
tunately,thepointoftheleadwas accessiblenotebookinyourclass- ormedicalconditionsyourstudents
alsostuckinmyeyelid.Iwasvery roomcontainingMaterialSafety haveeachyear.Yourschoolnurse
luckymyeyeballwasnotinjured. DataSheets(MSDS)ofallmedia shouldprovideyouwithalistof
Thisincidentremindsmeofthe thatrequireit. The MSDScontains students’seriousconditions. You
importanceofsafetyprecautions. anemer- mightalso
gencycon- askparents
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EachtimeIintroduceanewartles- number thisinfor-
son,Iincludeeverystep,including alongwith mationon
procedurestohelpstudentscreate thespecificphysicalandchemical aformsenthomeatthebeginning
successfulpiecesofartwork.Itry componentsofpotentiallyharm- oftheyear.Teachersshouldbe
tointegratearthistoryalongwith fulmedia.Itdetailsthehazards awareofastudentwhomighthave
theelementsofartandtheprin- forinhalation,skincontact,eye spasms,seizures,orotherhealth
ciplesofdesign,showexamplesof contact,andingestionandwhatto conditionsaffectingtheirabilities.
finishedproducts,andpresentdem- doifthishappens. The MSDSalso Rememberthatthisisconfidential
onstrationswiththemediathey informsyouoffireorexplosion information.
willbeusing.Howmanytimesdo possibilitiesandrequirementsfor
wereviewthesafetyprecautions storage,ventilation,eyeprotection, Routine Procedures
forthetoolsandmediastudents gloves,specialclothing,orrespira- Establisharoutineforstudentsas
willusewiththesamecare?Safety tors. theyenteryourclassroom.Post
shouldbeapriorityineveryclass- Manyofthemajorartsupply instructionsontheboardifitisa
roomforeveryagegroup. retailershavetheseMSDSavail- studiodayandmakesuretheyhave
Ourgovernmentregulatesmate- ableintheironlinecatalogs.Acopy aprons,gloves,safetyglasses,and
oftheMSDSis theirhairtiedback.Studentstend
availablefromthe togoalongwithwhatotherstu-
distributorofthe dentsaredoing.
productandshould Remembertocheckstudents’
beincludedwhen handsforcutsandscrapesthat
yourordersare shouldbecovered.Makeitahabit
delivered.Ihave forjewelrytoberemovedwhen
alsofounditconve- studentscomeintoyourclassroom.
nienttosavethem Ihavefoundithelpfulforstudents
onmycomputer. toinventoryeachotherbyusinga
verbalchecklistsostudentsbecome
FirstAidKits responsiblefortheirneighbor’s
Anotherhelpful safetyaswellastheirown.
safetyeffortisto
familiarizestu-
dentswiththefirst continuedonpage XX.
SchoolArts August/September2007 33
Circle No. 278 on Reader’s Service card.
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Classroom Management
Finally, keep the environment in
your classroom safe. Keep the area
organized and clean. Maintain a
safety bulletin board including posters and precautions that relate to
the media being used and refer to it
on a daily basis. All containers and
cabinets should be properly labeled.
Account for your materials by
using sign-out sheets. If you allow
students to have food and drink in
the room, make certain it is not a
time when they are using art media.
Proper ventilation is a must. Post
caution signs where they might be
necessary.
Let your administration know
how they can help you meet your
classroom needs. Believe it or not,
they will appreciate your conscientiousness. Be aware of your students’ activities. Get to know your
students. Realize when this year
might be the year to skip the project
that requires the use of craft knives
and the linocuts without diminishing your program. Keep parents
informed of your safety concerns.
Classroom management is essential
in the artroom. Make the safety of
every student your priority.
Resource
Qualley, Charles A. Safety in the
Artroom. Worcester, MA: Davis
Publications, Inc., 2005.
Patricia Huntress teaches Art I, Upper
Level Sculpture, and AP Studio 3-D at
Brazoswood High School, in Clute, Texas.
Phuntress@brazosportisd.net
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