Now that I have been able to volunteer with ArtSpace Charter School for several weeks now I have found that working with the school has been personally enriching. With ArtSpace I have carried a mixture of odd jobs that have helped each instructor. This week I reorganized the school's tempera paint using the color spectrum and refilled paint cans that the students will use for art projects. Last week when volunteering for the virtual arts classes I helped by sorting through slides of photographs of bygone eras. Personally I found this to be very amazing as over 10,000 slides were donated to the school from someones private collection. Each slide contained scenes from truly amazing locations like that of Downtown Cairo, Giza, 1970s Los Angeles, the Indonesian Islands, and The Great Barrier Reef.
The past few weeks of volunteering have helped me lean how education is such a lost and dying art for some schools. As I am currently volunteering for a charter school and teaching in another public institution I have observed teachers don't need the most advanced white boards to be great or even the superior funding of that of a private school. Teachers need to facilitate an environment safe enough for students to openly feel they can create without harassment or ridicule.
Hopefully in the near future my work with the teaches can provide them with more free time to focus on making larger strides with their lesson plans. With my help I want to see the teachers accomplishing new opportunities that before were limited possibilities.
Wow, looks like you're being really productive and having a good time too! It must seem like an adventure every time you volunteer because you don't know what odd job you'll get. Love the pictures too :)
ReplyDeleteHaving taught in the public school system for 9 years, I can imagine how grateful the teachers are to have your assistance! I really appreciate your passion for education and your willingness to help :)
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