Community outreach through art.

The relationship between community service and the artclassroom is very important. When students give to the community, both the community and the students benefit. Students realize the impact that art makes when their artwork is displayed throughout the community, and people in the community have a better understanding of art education.

The Denton Independent School District has an Adopt-A-School program, which is a business and school partnership. A business adopts a school and provides students with a variety of services, depending on the business. Donating materials and personal involvement such as serving as a guest speaker and funding are areas in which businesses contribute to schools. From the school standpoint, business people participating directly with students will have a more far-reaching positive impact than if they just give money. Businesses provide role models, as adults volunteer their time for the benefit of our students.

My fourth- and fifth-grade art club students spread cheer and show appreciation for our school adopters by designing holiday decorations for their windows. Students' self-esteem is boosted as they take pride in hanging their artwork on the windows, and many parents go to the place of business to view their child's art.

The school adopters and other places of business welcome displays of artwork anytime of the year. I exhibit students' artwork in public places during March in celebration of Youth Art Month. The business owners are always commenting about how their customers enjoy the works of art, and students are often given perks, such as free meal restaurant coupons.

I take students to the local nursing home to deliver their handmade holiday cards several times a year. Students give cards to the residents at lunchtime and visit with them for a few minutes.

The newspaper staff is interested in community service projects, and this can be an opportunity for art education to receive public recognition. The local newspaper took photographs of students hanging their artwork at places of business and at the nursing home, and published them along with an article detailing their community service.

Camaraderie is apparent as students work together as a team in creating artwork. Advocacy and good will are promoted by the creation and distribution of art throughout the community. Students experience instant success through their feelings of competence, belonging, respect, empathy, and usefulness when investing in the well being of others.

When we guide our students to develop a sense of social responsibility, they realize that they can make a positive difference in people's lives and, in return, gain a stronger sense of their own self-worth. Planned experiences of community service through art help students to learn ethical and social values in real-life situations. This is an important goal in education, and can result in public support for art education.

NATIONAL STANDARD

Students understand there are various purposes for creating works of art.

At the time this article was written, Berniece Patterson was an art teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Denton, Texas.