1) I resolve to continue my own work as an artist this year. I won't promise to finish my epic trilogy this year, but I am going to keep plugging away at my writing. Whatever your art form, your students will benefit from you engaging in your ongoing work.
2) I resolve to be an advocate for arts education whereever and whenever the opportunity presents itself. I will strive to view these conversations both private and public as divine appointments for the benefit of my students. I will strive to be patient with those who don't yet understand why arts education matters for every person.
3) I resolve to meet difficulty with grace and good humor. I will strive to see the good, to be thankful for progress and to reject cynicism. I will maintain my belief that my work is important even when it seems invisible to the world.
4) I resolve to be grateful. I will strive for good will toward every student and colleague, recognizing that often the most apparently indifferent person turns out to be the one who will most benefit from what I have to offer.
5) I resolve to encourage other Teaching Artists. I will strive to remember how others have helped me in difficult times, and I will welcome the opportunity to pass that on to others.
Happy New Year!
What wonderful aspirations Darcy! Please keep reminding those around you of your goals, so that we may support you and learn from you. You are so right. The more gracious and noble we are as people and artists, the better our children will be.
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading & commenting. I need lots of support! I appreciate you.
Darcy, you continue to be one of my most respected mentors, as an educator and a human. Thank you for being so generous of spirit and setting such a wonderful example. May your New Year be the best one yet.
ReplyDeleteI am particularly glad to see that you are resolved to keep writing and working on your own artistic endeavors. This is one of the great challenges for the "teaching artist" - to keep one's own work moving while encouraging the growth of young artists. Ultimately, I believe being committed to our own artistic projects makes for better teaching because it puts us back in touch with the vulnerability that comes with risk taking. Balancing these two parts of ourselves is an ongoing challenge. Supporting teaching artists as you do by providing a forum and on going conversation about all of this is a great service. Thanks, Darc.
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