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It takes more than bookwork: How art makes a difference in the classroom
BY TERRY MATHEWS | News-Telegram Arts Editor
May 25, 2007 - Philip Dick is convinced that training in the fine arts is essential to a well-rounded education. While he acknowledges the importance of English, math and social studies in a student’s life, the Sulphur Springs High School art instructor believes classes in drawing, painting and sculpture bring a much-needed balance to his students’ lives.
“Other classes have requirements and testing. It’s a high-pressure thing,” Dick said during an interview in his workroom. “While there is a high standard to be met in art, there is room for individuality and creativity.”
It’s the ability to create that inspires his students, Dick believes.
“They are able to come in here and work hard without some of the same mental pressures,” he said.
Dick, who holds a doctorate in education from Texas A&M University-Commerce also believes his students learn some valuable life lessons in his class.
“A work ethic is so important,” Dick said. “I took a Stephen Covey seminar. He wrote ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People,’ and in the seminar he talked about the way we approach life. There’s the rule of the school and the rule of the farm.”
According to Dick, the rule of the school says a student can skate by in classes for a while, and then when a test comes along, they can cram for it the night before. Covey believes students can pass the course, but have they really learned the subject matter?
Then, there’s the rule of the farm. “If you’re planting crops, it’s impossible not to plan. You must have a planting date and you must spend time maintaining the fields,” Dick said. “Before you realize a crop, there must be some work done.”
Dick gave this example on how the rule of the farm applies to his classes:
“When we build pottery, the students cannot go home and cram and produce something overnight. In some cases, you can throw something together, but you can’t make good work that way. To make good pieces, it takes work.”
Dick’s students also get a chance to put their knowledge of other subjects to use in art class.
“We use math and science in our classroom every day. There’s a lot of chemistry and physics involved in ceramic work,” Dick said. “In the art appreciation portion of the class, we do a project and write a paper about it, using cited works. The students present their papers to the class, using PowerPoint and public speaking. These opportunities give the students another avenue to put into practice what they’re learning in other classes.”
Dick said his students usually fall into two categories: those who have a clear idea of their talent and what they want to do with it and those who aren’t aware of their gifts.
“I’ve got students who come in and they know they want to be an artist,” he said. “They’ve been drawing forever. The have a collection of drawings and it’s up to me to give them direction and help them soar.”
Two of Dick’s recent students have enjoyed success after leaving his classroom.
“Cole McNair was awarded a $100,000 scholarship in art,” Dick said. “And Kasie Moon is about to graduate from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago.”
Students who aren’t aware of their gifts are a challenge for Dick.
“This situation shocked me the first couple of times it happened,” Dick explained. “I sometimes forget what it’s like to be at the entry level of art.”
Dick has a glass cabinet just outside his classroom where he displays the best projects throughout the year.
“I’ve had students whose work was extraordinary. I’d put it out in the cabinet and give them an A+,” Dick said. “I’d think that the fact they got an A+ and they got displayed in the cabinet would be enough to show them they had talent, but I’ve watched them wad it up and throw it away once the display changes.”
Dick said these incidents have convinced him to give more verbal feedback to help build the students’ confidence.
“I know there are a lot of issues about confidence during the high school years,” he added.
One way to build his students’ confidence is to win competitions.
For the past two years, Dick has entered his students’ pieces into the Texas Visual Arts Association’s competition, held at the University of Texas at Dallas. The annual competition draws some 1,200 entries.
“We’re competing with all the schools in the area, including some of the arts magnet schools that have pretty high-powered art programs,” Dick said.
From the 1,200 entries, judges select an elite 100 pieces to display, giving out 12-15 awards.
“Both years we entered, we got 4-5 pieces into the top 100,” Dick said. “Of the 4-5 pieces we had in the top 100, we’ve always won awards – maybe not Best in Show, but we’ve won something.”
An assemblage lamp built by Courtney Aguilar won an Honorable Mention in the 2004 show.
According to Dick, Aguilar is a perfect example of a student who didn’t realize her talents. Much to her surprise, the lamp she created in class ended up in the elite group at the prestigious show.
“She constructed the lamp from ordinary things,” Dick said. “She really didn’t think that much of it. I think it took winning an award at such a competitive level away from here before realized she had something.”
In addition to class work, Dick also makes sure to take his students to museums each semester.
“Last year, I had an extraordinary group of advanced students,” he said. Dick took them on the regular trip to the Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Garden in Dallas and to the arts district in Fort Worth. “Then, we took a two-day trip to Houston,” Dick said.
The group had a long list of places to visit in Houston, including the Menil Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Art Car Museum, the Contemporary Arts Museum, nearby art galleries, a glass exhibit and a sculpture garden.
“There was no down time,” Dick said of the trip. “We were all over the place.”
Dick has all the credentials necessary to stand in front of a classroom of aspiring artists. He holds a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies (art, history and journalism) from the University of Texas at Tyler and a master’s in sculpture from TAMU-Commerce. While he says he’s not a painter, he believes he can get his students to a pretty high level of painting. Dick, 40, also teaches art history for Paris Junior College. He could teach private lessons or be a full-time professor at a university, but he chooses to stay in the secondary classroom.
“I’ve been here eight years,” Dick said. “And I’m happy.”
Dick got his start doing sculpture. “I had done some custom furniture and played around with electronics,” Dick said. “I did computer programming, too, but a lot of hands-on things came together with sculpture. It clicked.”
Dick is excited about the 2007-2008 school year. While other public school arts programs are suffering, Dick’s budget was increased a bit and he’s getting new digs.
“We had a bond pass, so we’re getting a new fine arts wing,” he said. “The band and choir are going into the new addition. The existing band and choir space, which are large, will be gutted and will be turned into art and theater.”
Dick will have a new room, office, kiln and a space for storage. He’s grateful to his administration and the community for their continued support of the arts.
“Honestly, this administration has been very generous and good to me. And the thing that I appreciate so much about this community is that they understand the need to humanize our daily lives,” Dick said. “They know what it takes to live, to work, to build, to make and to create. It’s more than just the bookwork.”
