Works of Art

So many of you might be thinking “this has nothing to do with teaching!” I’d say “you’re wrong!” Many friends of mine have told me that I have a talent in the arts…I think of it as second nature. Now, you must be wondering where this is going or how it relates to teaching. Take a look at some of these pieces of stained glass. No, I did not make them, but someone in my family did. That someone: my dad. Ever since I was a kid my father has been making works of art for our house, for friends, and for family. He was my teacher.

I would sit and watch him widdle away at a piece of wood and create something beautiful out of it.

 Even when he would be working with leather, he would meticulously stamp away, one by one, a new piece of art was formed. Can I make something like this now? No. But I have taken his techniques and applied them to things of my interest. I can’t build a cabinet, stamp leather, or create stained glass, but I can do other things. The similarity between us; we do them both in the same way. He’ll pour his heart and soul into making a cabinet, talk about it day and night for weeks. I’ll do the same. Rather than a cabinet, it might be a piece of art I’ve drawn. No matter what we both produce, we both produce it in the same manner: with passion.

 A real teacher
passes on this trait
to their students.

Some kids are better at math, some are stronger in drama. We can’t decided what path they’ll be on. What we can decided is how they’ll take that path.

The Christmas card above (Merry New York Christmas) was one that I made for one of my best friends. Cards are such a great way to express how you feel for someone in a good old fashion way: genuinely. Chatting, texting, blogging: all  impersonal. There is no “matthew’ font. However, there is only one ‘matthew’ cursive. Anyone who knows me knows my writing, just as I know theirs. It’s good that our society is moving forward and technology is being used to improve the classroom, but

some things
should remain
oldschool.

If you’re wondering what the other two pictures are…The black and white image is a charcoal drawing stamped with custom made stamped logo on velum paper.  Below is a piece of furniture my father made as a gift to my mother.  Remember the three things every teacher should possess:

Love.Dedication.Passion.