Journal Entry #2

Journal 2:What preconceptions do you hold about the nature of childhood and children? How do these ideas affect your understanding of the role of the teacher and the nature of the content of art education? How did your experiences today confirm or change your pre-existing ideas?

I have a lot of preconceptions about the nature of childhood that aren’t accurate. I often fall into the bad habit of thinking that because children are innocent and often naïve, they are stupid or simple. I love that we watched James and the Giant Peach so early in the semester because it is such a fantastic reminder that children are capable of so much more than we give them credit for. I think Roald Dahl and Tim Burton have an amazing grasp of what children are capable of. My initial ideas about having a children’s movie revolve around giant spiders and other insects is negative but this movie gives so many positive messages and does not underestimate how strong and intelligent children are.

These ideas of mine, the preconceptions, have the potential to hold me back from giving interesting and challenging lessons as a teacher. This is a huge problem because children will work with what they are given. If I underestimate the children in my class and do a craft instead of an art project, they will all lose a great experience. James’ character in the movie helped me get over this misconception that children are both innocent and inadequate. Seeing a child with an imagination use his imagination the way James does is inspiring to me to be a better teacher.

Looking back at this film and this question later in the semester, I find that I am still falling into the same trap of underestimating children while I am planning my workshop. I find that I am consistently questioning whether a child will be capable of that activity or whether it will be safe for them. As adults, a lot of our preconceptions about children and what they are capable of are incorrect conceptions, and I am still striving to remedy that in my teaching skills. It is helpful to remember James and all he accomplished, and to remember that the children in my workshop and in my future classroom are just as intelligent and creative as James.