Chris Bristol, Fremont Tribune
Nancy Roberts shows second graders at Hooper Elementary how to design a fall scene using cut construction paper.Elementary Once Again Has Art Specialist
reprinted from the Fremont Tribune, Oct. 3, 2009
by Brett Ellis
October 03, 2009
HOOPER - Art is making a comeback at one area school this
year.
For the first time in at least 20 years, art classes are being
taught to Logan View elementary students.
Dana Schultz, in his first year as Logan View’s elementary principal, said he was surprised when he arrived that art was not already being offered to students other than what instruction classroom teachers were able to provide.
"With things like (physical education), music and art, I feel they
need to be taught by someone that is a specialist," Schultz said.
"The classroom teachers have enough on their plate and it’s hard
for them to teach everything else."
That’s when Nancy Roberts entered the picture.
Roberts had been an English Language Learners teacher at Logan
View since 2006, but had originally gone to college several years
ago to become an art teacher.
Because of a drop in the number of ELL students in the district,
Roberts was able to become the elementary art teacher.
"I was thrilled," Roberts said.
Roberts spends a half-hour each week with each grade level in the district’s elementary school buildings in Hooper and at Logan View.
The exception is at the fourth-grade level, where Roberts sees the students for an hour every other week. She would like that to be the normal art schedule for students in third grade and above.
"It’s the same amount of time, but they can get the longer projects done in one time instead of having to carry it over," Roberts said.
Students don’t come to an art room to visit Roberts. Instead, she takes around a cart with supplies for the projects to individual classrooms.
That, Roberts said, is a minimal challenge when compared to the importance of teaching art to students.
"It helps a person be well-balanced," she said. "Your analytical part of your mind is controlled by the left side of the brain. The right side is your creativity, and if you don’t develop both sides you can only think in one area. You can’t expand out and find other ways.
"You really need to develop both sides of the brain, and if you don’t have things like art and music, you don’t get that. You’re losing something."
Schultz said the elementary students have enjoyed having a
chance to learn more about art.
"The kids are having a blast because it’s something new and
exciting," Schultz said. "They know it’s coming up and they can’t
wait for the next art session."
He also has heard good things about the program from another group of people.
"I think the biggest feedback is from the teachers," Schultz
said. "They’re saying, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so great because we
haven’t been trained in it and we’re not comfortable with it.’"
Roberts said she tries to choose projects for the students that
don’t require an abundance of artistic talent. Instead, she wants
the children to be able to use their creativity.
"It doesn’t matter if it’s perfect," Roberts said. "It’s the journey to the end of the project and what you learn along the way that’s important."
And now that art is back, Schultz said he believes it is here to stay at the elementary level at Logan View.
"I think it’s just very, very important to your school system to make your kids well-rounded," he said.
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