Laying Down the Law

Although rules and expectations for an art classroom are necessary to maintain student safety,  preserve materials, equipment, and facilities, and generally keep the peace, it can be difficult to present and enforce all of them while also maintaining the image of the art room as a fun, inviting place.  This week in class, we discussed the topic of discipline and were tasked to create our own set of rules within groups.  We all agreed that some of the most important things to remember when creating rules and expectations in a classroom is to be very clear and positive. Each group came up with a similar set of simple but concise expectations, such as:

Respect: yourself, the materials, the facility, the teacher, and others

Be prepared: complete homework and bring appropriate supplies

Clean: your tables, the floor, and any materials you used

Challenge Yourself: think outside the box, try new things

Be Patient: good art takes time and practice

Some other expectations introduced by other groups were:

Make an effort

Follow all teacher directions and instructions

Help keep the classroom neat and organized

Speak quietly and only during free time

Keep in mind that everyone is an artist in their own way

Always give take and receive constructive criticism

This list is just for student behavior and interaction and it is already a lot to present to students.  However, I believe that enforcing these expectations will be easier when referencing back to the expectation of respect.  Cleaning and keeping the room organized falls under respecting materials and facility, following teacher directions respects the teacher, challenging yourself and being patient falls under respecting yourself, and speaking quietly, considering everyone an artist, and practicing constructive criticism all deal with respecting other students.

In regards to safety, there is a whole other set of guidelines to present and enforce.  There is the list of various equipment that must be used under teacher supervision (as provided by Gina Taylor):

Kiln

Clay Extruders

Slab Roller

Potter’s Wheel

Pugmill

Printing Press

Paper Cutters

Power Tools (drills, sander, saws, dremels, etc.)

Irons and Hot Plate

There are also a list of guidelines for use of tools and techniques, also provided by Gina Taylor:

Spray all fixatives outside.

Do not touch the kiln when it is hot (during firing cycle or cool down)

Use safety goggles and/or masks when sculpting or operating machinery.

Use bench hooks when working with linoleum or wood carving tools; remember to carve away from your body and hands, not toward yourself.

Tie back your hair, secure belts and apron ties, and remove jewelry when using power tools or potter’s wheel.

Use disposable gloves when using oil-based inks, stains, etc., that require solvents to clean.

Use caution with all sharp tools and electrical equipment.

DO NOT REMOVE SHARP TOOLS FROM THE ART ROOM!; An X-acto knife, used properly, is a ‘tool’ when it is in the art classroom, but it becomes a ‘potential weapon’ (and grounds for expulsion according to the school board’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy) if you take it out of the classroom.

INFORM THE TEACHER IF YOU OR A CLASSMATE IS INJURED OR YOU NOTICE A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

And, of course, displaying the information for the location of a fire extinguisher and the number of the school nurse are also vital to maintain classroom safety.  I would enforce these safety regulations by posting reminders about teacher supervision on or around the equipment listed above, and storing the tools, fixatives, and other materials mentioned in the above guidelines away from general student access.