Moving the cursor over a graphic of a man labeled "Project Planner" presents the text: Teachers often feel inadequately prepared to teach hands-on art-making, do not know how to talk with students about art and are uncomfortable visiting a museum with or without their students. Many teachers will need training to meet the anticipated formal assessment in the arts mandated by the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements in 2008.

Moving the cursor over a graphic of a woman labeled "School Administrator" presents the text: Most teachers have had little pre-service training in teaching critical thinking, one of Washington State’s Four Learning Goals, infused in all curricular areas of the state’s learning standards. When knowledge and data are easily accessible, educators need to help students locate and analyze information, make reasoned judgments, think creatively, communicate clearly and solve problems- all skills employers seek.

Moving the cursor over a graphic of a woman and child labeled "Teacher" presents the text: Teachers enjoy learning from each other and sharing ideas but are usually overloaded with demands on their time. Teachers often feel underpaid, under pressure to “teacher to test” to meet standards in reading, writing and math with “no time” to teach art. Teachers usually have very little art background and may feel uncomfortable on museum visits. Teachers work with limited funding for “extras” such as field trips, and art supplies.

Moving the cursor over a graphic of a stack of books and papers labeled "Research" presents the text: Although (elementary school) teachers are positive about art, less than half are comfortable teaching it, perhaps due to a lack of materials and time and adequate training in art.
Paraphrased from Karen Apple, “Is Art a Frill? Elementary Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Art” (1993) ERIC Document 361 272

This file contains all the long descriptions for the complex rollover graphics on the "Museum example: Audience considerations about need and audience" page. When read please return to the page for additional content.