When Rocky was in third grade he returned from his day at school with an extremely sad face.

I greeted him with a smile and asked how his day was.

Rocky removed a small, handmade Indian satchel from his backpack and handed it to me.

“You made this?” I asked

Rocky slowly shook his head yes.

As I held the small satchel in my hand, I observed each of the meticulously placed feathers and stones that Rocky had glued to it. It was obvious that he had decided with great care where each of them would be placed. It was simplistically and tastefully done. I was impressed with the beauty of what my son had made and all of the effort that he had put into it.

“Mommy, it’s an Indian satchel.” Rocky began, “We’re learning all about American Indians in school and this is what they used to carry their stuff.”

“It is beautiful!” I replied, “You did a great job!”

“No,  I didn’t.” Rocky stated, as he began to cry “Turn it over.”

I flipped the satchel in my hand and there written in red marker was a large letter “C”

I was shocked.

“Why did you get a “C”? I asked

Rocky replied, “My art teacher said that all of the other kids glued more rocks and feathers to theirs and I didn’t try hard enough.”

“I’m not any good at art.” He stated through lips that began to quiver.

Rocky sat on the floor across from me and sobbed, tears running down both of his cheeks.

“Rocky you are really good at art. What you make is your own creation and it is absolutely perfect because you made it. ” I said, “Art is an expression of yourself and you expressed yourself beautifully.”

I gave Rocky a hug and dried his tears.

“Thanks Mommy.” He said

“Now go play.” I replied with a smile.

That night as I made dinner all I could think about was the Indian Satchel and my son’s tears.

After I got the boys in bed, I fired up the computer and composed a very heartfelt, passionate email to my son’s art teacher. I told him how Rocky cried over his project and his grade. I told him how my son had said, “I’m not any good at art.”

My fingers flew over the keyboard as I explained that this letter grade that my son received had helped him to come to the conclusion that he had nothing to offer artistically.

And I didn’t stop there.

I explained that art was a form of expression and perspective that was individual to each person and how I felt that as long as the student completes the project and learns, in this case, the history or assignment that went along with it, that there should be no letter grade…only a complete or incomplete regarding the project.

I was crying as I wrote, feeling validated in what I was saying.

In closing, I pointed out that my son crying and believing that he wasn’t good at art is the complete opposite of what art is meant to teach: freedom of imagination, creativity, self-expression, personal growth and confidence.

I ended by signing my name with my phone number below.

The following night I received a phone call from the art teacher. He apologized for his statement to Rocky and what had transpired when Rocky returned from school with his art project.

He told me that he had read the letter more than ten times. He told me that he cried.

The outcome, he said, was that the students in lower elementary art classes would no longer be receiving letter grades for their individual art projects, only a letter grade for each marking period.

I thanked him and we hung up.

I had made a difference, not only for my son, but for all of the other children that need to express their individual creativity without fear of it not being good enough.

We are all always enough.

For all of the artists, painters, sculptors, crafters, decorators, photographers, seamstresses, knitters, crocheters, woodworkers, dancers, musicians, actors, singers, fashionistas, and writers out there…

What you create is enough…It is always good enough, because it is an expression of you.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

This world is but a canvas to our imagination. - Henry David Thoreau

 

 

 

18 thoughts on “The Art of Individual Expression”

  1. I had chills reading this as I had a VERY similar experience with my son’s art teacher in 3rd grade and he got an F on his tree! Our outcome was not as favorable and he never did well in her class but LOVED art! I think I am STILL mad about it all and the school as we certainly weren’t the only parents with issues with her but it was a good lesson that it really had zero to do with art and more about learning to have an open mind and to see how it felt to hurt someone else’s feelings and that was all I could salvage out of the experience but thankfully he still loved art 🙂 – she was just a bad obstacle 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. So sorry that happened to your son. What is it with these 3rd grade art teachers?
      I remember how upset I was about the situation while I was writing this post and Rocky is eighteen now…

      Like

      Reply
  2. Pingback: The Art of Individual Expression « Cristian Mihai

  3. sorry to hear that, but im glad that you as a mother didn’t stopped on giving you son a comfort drying his tears. You stood up for him, a mother that you could be proud of… On the contrary for what his art teacher implied about giving grades based on his own perspective and standard measurements, they simply took the liberty of the child to be more imaginative and creative, i recommend you to watch this movie ” Every Child is Special” by Aamir Khan. You should invite to watch the movie not just your son’s art teacher but all the teachers in his school. God Bless to you.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Found my way here through Christian’s reblog of this article. Thoroughly enjoyed the read and completely agree with your view that art is for individual expression and here’s no good way to evaluate a piece of art ever! I hope your son is back to making these wonderful things 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, he got through it. It was a painful situation for him but he knew that his mom prevailed. I felt that it was important for my son to know that I stand behind my word, his art was good because he created it.
      Thank you for your comment and in site into how we support our children in the arts.
      I hope that you enjoy following my blog.
      Erin Cooper Reed

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. I agree! It reminds me of the John Lennon quote, “When I was five years old my mother always taught me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.
      I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” – John Lennon

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment