Be an Artist Teacher Not an Art Teacher

I recently got a job teaching art. I teach jewelry at a High School and I've noticed a few interesting facts about teaching.

1. They love boundaries. If you make them get a tardy slip from the office every time they're late, they like you more. If they know that they are allowed to go to the bathroom, they won't ask for a pass as often.

2. If you are nice to them, they'll be nice to you.

3. Most kids in high school are not afraid of fire unless they have actually been on fire.

4. Everything you say is a reference to sex.

5. When you become an art teacher, you can kiss your own art goodbye.

Number 5 is probably somewhat of an exaggeration, since I do create some class examples. But it isn't quite the same. Just like any job, you don't take it home if you can help it (which is nearly impossible as a teacher) and thinking about it brings you back to thinking about the kids. So this leaves me to ponder making art and trying not to think about the theft, the vandalism and the attitude, but trying to think of the handful of excited students who will become wonderful artists or wonderful artistic people. Hopefully, when I think of making art again, I will have paper before me and a pen in my hand and no thought in my head.