is only a few students that select a school on the basis of
program and instructional quality. Most students base their
application on what they can afford or what is convenient. Sometimes
they apply to schools they have heard about, a teacher or friend
has recommended them or someone they know attended that institution.
The reasons for choosing an institution are frequently superficial
to educational goals. There is an assumption by many students
that a degree from one institution is just as good as one from
another, and it is of small consequence which school they attend.
This is a dangerous presumption in any form of professional
Students tend to view education as grades and a diploma rather
than what they learn. Most students do not understand what education
is, the educational process or their role in the process. This
has to be carefully explained to them.
If teachers are aware of the importance of student attitudes,
those that are most harmful can be redirected.
and motivation will improve with educational benefits becoming
proportionately greater. Teachers need to deal with these
problems from the first day of class and consistently throughout
are several student concerns regarding teachers that are extremely
important. Students might not always like it, but they do
respect honesty. Students resent arbitrary decisions or criticism
justified only by teacher authority. They want, and deserve,
an explanation for actions by teachers.
more than anything else, students value fairness. Any
action by teachers perceived as being unfair by students greatly
affects attitudes toward that teacher and education. Fairness,
among other things, pertains to requirements or procedures,
criticism of work, and assessment of all students by the same
criteria. Students expect grades to be explained and justified.
Students will accept a demanding program as long as they believe
it is fair and that every student is treated equally.
want, and respond to, perception of teachers as being sincerely
interested in them as individuals. Students respect teachers
who work hard and display dedication to teaching and the profession.
can be no question about student attitudes being shaped to
a great extent by how society today in America views teachers
and education. From the historical point-of-view, youth is
a precious resource, teachers are highly respected and education
is not only valued but considered imperative to the future
of that society. This view has been held by all cultures throughout
history and it includes primitive societies as well as civilized
toward education in this country began to change after World
War II. During the period of educational retrenchment beginning
in the late 1960s, education was identified and treated as
a business by politicians and industrial leaders. Teachers
gave up their status as professionals for that of employees;
education was sold as a service, universities, colleges and
schools were managed as businesses, teachers provided services
and students became customers. Under these conditions, there
should be no surprise that students as customers believe they
should dictate what they expect because they have paid for
it. It is perfectly clear why students often view education
and treat teachers as they do.
for Shaping Student Attitudes
The relationship between student attitudes and commitment,
discipline, maturity and productivity must be understood and
dealt with by teachers. This involves students shedding old
values and acquiring new ones which is not an easy task. Passive
students must learn to take initiative in their education.
To have a successful education, students must recognize the
need for interpersonal skills, setting goals, and to be objective
in assessing their own capabilities. The foundation for new
values is an understanding by students that education is not
something given to them, but something they must obtain by
aggressively availing themselves of every opportunity
teachers, libraries, peers, technical facilities and through
their commitment and productivity.
years ago, I seldom took class roll as it was not necessary.
More recently, it has been required to take roll at every
class and also to note those students who leave early or come
late. Excused absences are rare as an absence is an absence
no matter what the circumstances. Three absences are allowed
without penalty; four means a warning and five or more per
semester affect the grade. Students who are not in attendance
cannot learn, and this discipline has to be established from
normal method of instructing in the studio is for the teacher
to move around the studio helping each student individually.
About ten or fifteen years ago, I stopped using this procedure.
I positioned myself in the studio and required students to
come to me when they needed assistance. This pressured students
to take initiative when they wanted my input. There were always
students who refused to make use of my presence. These students
usually fell behind in their work or did poorly. Eventually
they were pushed to make contact with me in order to survive.
This is the way it is going to be after they leave school,
so they might as well learn it while in school.
experience has been that any kind of research requirement
in conjunction with problems fosters self-initiative. Research
requires individual effort; the exposure from searching is
in itself informational, broadening and sometimes motivating.
Research puts students into the position of learning on their
at the introductory level, students do research in connection
with projects or they are required to do written and image
research on painters, architects, photographers or designers.
Research assignments at any level are good strategy to develop
students is another strategy. Students cannot duck the responsibility
of learning simply through meeting a deadline. Too often,
meeting deadlines become the student goal rather than problem
objectives. When students realize they cannot advance until
the work is at a satisfactory level, they either withdraw,
fail or adopt a more positive attitude toward assignments.
The practice is most important with the introductory theoretical
exercises, drawing and color. At the Senior level, deadlines
are set and enforced.