by Tyler Hasty

Created on: March 04, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

When we go to school we expect to learn. Thats the whole point of going. When I signed up for a magnet (Visual Arts) I went in expected to expand my knowledge of art and increase my skill. What I found was a disappointment. Dr. Phillips High School In Orlando, Florida is supposed to have an amazing art magnet program. Well when I first got there I was thinking, "Maybe this will help me improve my artistic views". All that I ended up learning was basic things that I had previously learned in elementary school. My art teacher so far has not taught me a thing. As far as I know she can't even draw herself. When I ask her to demonstrate she mysteriously changes the subject. Above all of that she gives us these assignments that do allow us our freedom, that is a plus. Although it is extremely hard to do when we do not even have good supplies. Our entire class donated 20 dollars per student we received sketchbooks that might have cost 5-10 dollars. But the other money of the students was never seen by our class. One day I went to work in pen and ink and I discovered something very upsetting. The ink container was filled with water and as I went to finish a piece it was horrible quality and it ruined my piece that I had been working on for approximately 3 weeks. How are we supposed to learn to use these supplies if we don't even have good quality? Is this not what we payed our fees for? By far the worst thing about this magnet though is the teacher that we have. The one that can't even demonstrate a technique. I have asked alumni from the school about this and no one has ever seen her draw, paint or do anything artistic at all. These people have had her for all four years of high school in the magnet and never once seen her draw, wouldn't you find that a little odd? Despite her lack of teaching skills or knowledge the worst habit she has does effect our class. She leaves the room at least two times a day to go out and smoke. My point here is that the teachers in the school systems are less than adequate, teachers with tenure (such as this one) are making our students fly through there high school years only to get in a college and be lost. Our supplies aren't seen. The teachers aren't evaluated. Tenure is allowing teachers to practically be invincible, honestly these teachers with tenure would have to kill a student to get fired. When we aren't getting a proper education because the government isn't taking care of the people who provide us with education they are destroying the next generation. I have had to teach myself most of the things i know from text books and books from the library. Don't get me wrong there are good teachers out there but they are scarce. Someone needs to stand up and fix this, but will it happen?

Learn more about this author, Tyler Hasty.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.