September 14 2010 December 12 201010 In 1934, an art scholar travelled to Northumberland to teach art appreciation to a group of coal miners.
It has been a number of years since I last taught a summer school class -- California's recent budget woes have been tough on community colleges -- so when I was told that I would have the chance to teach Art Appreciation this summer a surge of inspiration hit.
In this way, active empathic listening is framed by the Carl Rogers quote above as it is one way of checking with the speaker to see: "Am I with you?" When I teach art appreciation to students, I implore them to see the canvas as they wish, and to share how they understand it.
Of course there is a place for literary analysis and teaching appreciation.
In my experience, it's far easier to start teaching appreciation and awareness of others' feelings early on than it is to work backwards when you find yourself with a Veruca Salt on your hands.
But they also just taught an appreciation of structure in general.
It taught us appreciation and a little bit of ecology; but it was a real perspective-building thing for me.
A strict disciplinarian whose commanding presence mirrors Mrs. Damiba's, he now teaches music appreciation courses and remedial reading.
He taught art appreciation classes, studied philosophy, wrote music criticism, managed a theatre group and, in 1933, ran on a ludicrous ticket for New York mayor.
