Editor’s Comments
Nancy Walkup and Eldon
Katter, the current and for-
mer editors of SchoolArts.
Meaning
“The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind—
creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers, and meaning makers.” Sounds like art teachers!
The first time I graduated
from college, my degree was
in graphic design. Though
I worked in the field for a
number of years (and still have the
greatest respect for design), a career
in design wasn’t personally meaningful or satisfying enough for me.
Looking for another path, I began
teaching as a visiting artist and then,
inspired by that experience, went
back to school for a degree in art
education.
Chances are that you are a
twenty-four-hour art teacher like
me. When I’m not teaching, I’m
planning for teaching, thinking
about teaching, or looking for inspiration for teaching. Now, I will readily admit to being obsessive and am
not advising this extreme lifestyle;
I just can’t help myself. Yet it does
have its rewards. Teaching art is
meaningful.
Teaching elementary art has its
challenges (such as summoning
enough energy for kindergarten) but
the rewards are tremendous. I am
amazed how serious students look
when they are completely focused
on a project. I marvel that you can
see in the face of a kindergartner the
adult a child will become. I am grati-
fied when students tell me they still
have every clay project they have
made over the years. I enjoy seeing
my students grow up from kindergarten to fifth grade, and I appreciate
it when they come back from middle
school to visit (a foot taller!) and tell
me they are still taking art.
I was encouraged to reflect on my
personal meaning of teaching art
when reading Daniel Pink’s book, A
Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brain-ers Will Rule the Future. Meaning
is one of six senses or aptitudes that
Pink proposes are needed for professional and personal success in our
changing world. According to Pink
“The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very
different kind of mind—creators and
empathizers, pattern recognizers,
and meaning makers.” Sounds like
art teachers!
The Search for Meaning
Pink suggests that meaning has
become a central aspect of our work
and our lives, and I think that is
especially true for teachers. To be
successful and effective as teachers,
we need to find meaning and purpose in our teaching and with our
students and colleagues.
Work is most satisfying when we
believe that we are using our greatest strengths for a meaningful purpose.
Taking some time for reflection
can clarify your thinking about
the satisfactions of teaching. One
of Pink’s practical suggestions for
exploring meaning is to make a list
of things for which you are grateful.
As an art teacher, what would be on
your list? What first comes to mind?
Why is teaching art meaningful for
you? If you would like to share your
thoughts, please send them to me at
nwalkup@verizon.net.
Thank you for your dedication to
art education! You are tops on my
list!
Some of Pink’s Suggestions for
Exploring Meaning
• Practice thankfulness.
• Do no work one day of the week.
• Read Man’s Search for Meaning
by Viktor Frankl.
• Picture yourself at ninety and
reflect on your life.
