What is it with art teachers?

[Titsywoo]

DD is currently in year 10 and doing her art GCSE. She has always loved art and been very good at it (generally gets 9's in her end of year exams etc). She has two different teachers for the subject plus the head of department who pops in often to see how everyone is getting on. She also goes to art classes outside of school with a very good teacher.

Everyone of these teachers can't seem to resist pushing DD into doing things she doesn't want to do or physically taking her pencil/paintbrush or whatever and drawing/painting what they think she should be doing. This tends to make her feel cross and demoralised as she had a plan and feels her picture is no longer what she wanted. I did both GCSE and Alevel art and remember exactly the same thing happening all the time.

Now I appreciate teachers have to teach but surely get another bit of paper and show the technique so the student can try it. Don't do it for them and don't ruin their work. Art is supposed to be self expression not teachers bloody expression.

I tell students all the time that ‘if you want to be successful in the exam put away personal preference and do what you need to do to hit the criteria’. It is that simple. Especially if your teacher has a proven track record - listen to them above doing what you want. You have the rest of your life outside of exams to create in the way you wish.

The notion that art is supposed to be self expression is very modern and quite frankly a bit narcissistic. That aside, I’ve never experienced this.

I get the annoyance I had it too when I was doing my Art GCSE, but as an adult I realise that my teacher pushing me so hard to venture into new techniques/mediums was because he saw that I had such a passion for the subject - it is a PITA but hopefully it’s because her teachers see something similar in your DD?

I can only say this now as a 31 year old though - as a teenager it pissed me right off 😂

They do it to adults,

Showing on a different piece of paper would be best. There's a way to model and support without getting overbearing.

However, there absolutely is a need to get away from this idea that personal expression is key when studying a qualification assessing competency in different areas.

For example, 50% of English Language GCSE is creative writing. Marks are awarded for grammar. Much as I've read some really imaginative work, if it's full of sentence fragments and commas splices so often that I can't distinguish between deliberate crafting and lack of knowledge then the marks can't be awarded.
The student has a choice:

1. Demonstrate control of standard English grammar and then break the rules deliberately on occasion for effect
2. Decide personal expression is key and that their voice is the most important thing

It's their call, but I've had some interesting parents' evenings with students/parents who've decided I'm at fault for them underperforming when they've spent all term deciding they know the course requirements more than me.

This is the case in all creative subjects though. Creative writing has to be within the guidelines set for examination, music requires performing of set pieces or composing in a way that demonstrates certain skills. An English teacher would correct someone writing like ee cummings because it's not showing that you understand the rules you're breaking. Exams are not about 'doing art', they're about a demonstration of the skills and techniques. It doesn't have to be a deeply personal piece - it can be the equivalent of playing scales and arpeggios to a musician, so if she is doing something she feels too strongly about to change under guidance from her teachers, then maybe she should save that for her personal collection and make her portfolio about the exam criteria.

@LolaSmiles - should have refreshed the page before hitting post as you have said what I wanted to but much more eloquently! (I'd be a good student now, but as a teen I was one of those who would have argued and complained about lack of self-expression. Fortunately, I'm much less angsty now!).

Yep. Criteria has to be met. Certain techniques demonstrated. And the teacher cannot allow a student not to hit a target grade, or they’ll be having to explain themselves in September.
I have an art teacher in the family and they also hate having to jump through these hoops. And it breaks their heart that hey are writing similar feedback on every child’s work to try to make them hit the criteria in a uniform way.

Complain all you like, but if the teacher doesn’t push your daughter to use the desired techniques, then she simply won’t meet her target grade.

Great minds charity
This thread got me thinking and actually it's very rarely the strongest creative writers who have an issue with taking direction/feedback.
Usually it's the writers who able students, but middle to just above average creative writers who tend to be more inclined to decide to push against guidance (or ignore exam advice or feedback)

This is the case in all creative subjects though.

In all subjects, actually. I teach physics and there are aspects of the A level content which, if you write them on an exam paper, will cost you marks at GCSE level. All exams require "playing the system" to some extent, and those at the very top end who have a wider knowledge/ understanding / skill than can reasonably be expected of a 16yo need to either accept the rules of the system or accept lower grades. You can't expect teachers to support those choosing lower grades though, performance related pay prevents anything so child-centred.

I honestly dont think it's all about criteria. It's about learning and developing your creativity.

My DD is very talented but if she had just done what she wanted to do she would have got stuck with too pretty and too safe. So if you want your kid to really do well at Art then you need to encourage her to be pushed and to test herself and learn.

Actually I don't think my daughter was ever taught how to paint in a technical way. But she was advised how to work with oils, how to mix colour, how to position her easel, how to research new methods and artists to look at. I cannot emphasis enough how important the research is. I always taken her to galleries and discussed the pictures and I think it's essential to be a good artist to immerse yourself in art history,