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Almost all modern prep schools have a well equipped art room. Art classes are enjoyed by almost all the children. Art like the other fine arts is both a curriculum subject as well as a popular activity for the children. Most schools open the art room for the periodic afternoon activity/club program. All children of course enjoy art and the purpose of the art program is to acquint the children with a wide range of artistic formats. This depends somewhat on the available facilities and the skills of the at teacher. The children during any term are involved in a range of artistic projects. Some children develop impressive skills, but all benefit from the artistic experiences. Schools organize trips to art galleries and artistic events for interested students.
Prep schools attach varying importance to art and the art program. At some schools it is seen as more of a recreational ;eriod for the children. And at other schools it is seen as an esential aspect of the curriculum, importntin broaening the child's experiences. This has varied over time. The early schools gave a great deal of attentin to sport. Gradually the schools have become more rigorous academically. And in recent years aesthetics has increasingl been seen as an important aspect of a child's education. The trend toward coeducation has surely been a factor here. And of course the modern prep shool teachers have passed through an educational progam more atuned to the arts themselves.
Almost all modern prep schools have a well equipped art room. These vary in size and appountment. The mediums and disciplines persued depends somewhat on the available facilities and the skills of the at teacher. The facilities thus affect the kind of work that can be persued. Here the size of the school is a major factor. The art room is always a fascinating poart of the school, nirmally full of the children's work and work in progress. Some schools have a specialized pottery room with wheels and a kiln.
Art classes are enjoyed by almost all the children. Art like the other fine arts is both a curriculum subject as well as a popular activity for the children. Most schools open the art room for the periodic afternoon activity/club program. All children of course enjoy art and the purose of the art program is to acquint the children with a wide range of artistic formats. Often the art room is made available to the children to use in their free time.
Art is probably given more attention in the curriculum than the other fine arts diciplines. The bulk of the program is hands on work with various artistic mediums rather than academic art appreciation studies. Many schools in the 1980s integrated art into a larger Craft, Design, and Technology (CDT) curriculum which often are approached as more of an activity than a curriculum subject.
One of the interesting aspects of the art program at prep schools is the range and variety of art making. There are the standard drawing, painting, pottery, nd prunt making. But there is a great deal more. The teachers involved hav added a great deal of imagination to vary the program in an effort to stimulate the children's imagination and expand their concept of art and art making.
One notable observation from visiting art classes was the intensity with which the children persued art and the projects assigned. This was especially true of the younger children. We have rarely observed such focus. Nothing seem to distract the children from their art making.
Many prep school teachers use standard sylabuses and prepared progrms. This limits the individuality of the teaching to some extent. This varied from subject to subject. One subject that was taught in a highly individual manner was art. Thus it was only interesting to view the art rooms and the approach of the art teachers from school to school.
Many schools have an art club or similar activity. Children who enjoy art may hoin the art club. Normally this is an unsructured activity. Rather than like art class where teachers often assgn projects, usually in art club the children persue their special interests. And often the teacher has more gime to assist and the art room facilities are less croweded than during an art class. Some schools have specifc Art Clubs like the Painting or Pottery Club.
The children's art is commonly displayed throughout the school. This varies from school to school, but most schools display the art at many locations beyond the art room. The library is a popular location, but there are many others. The art teacher may organize a range of small shows and exhibitions for various purposes. Most schools hve one large exhibition, normally toward the end of each school year. Here the children get a change to show and sometmes talk about their art.
We have some entries about individual children doing art at prep schools. This provides some useful insights into art activities.
