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June 2005 marked completion of the first year of classes at the new private upper elementary school of Leport Schools in Fountain Valley, and my first year with LePort Schools as a guest teacher in art history and in drawing.
LePort Schools is committed to providing a rational education for young people in a conscientious learning environment. By bringing in guest teachers, the school offers a learning experience that is more varied and broad in scope.
My art history course is integrated with the school's general history curriculum. Students learn about the great works of art from across the ages that dramatize the exciting story of human history. In drawing class, students have the opportunity to learn about some of the fundamental skills artists use to produce fine art, and in the process develop their cognitive and motor skills.
This first year was tremendously rewarding. I experienced my students' growth in their knowledge, skills, and personal character. It is also a privilege to work with faculty who are committed to the rational needs of students, and enabling students to grow intellectually and personally.
In 2006 LePort Schools moved into a brand new building in beautiful Mission Viejo. Enrollment increased 90% from last year, which is very promising news for the future of this maverick school.
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The following are excerpts from answers that students have given in class assignments for Art History:
These assignments required that students convey their grasp of the fundamental spirit of the art works under study. These assignments also demonstrate students' familiarity with historical art periods, as well as specific art works. In oral questions students also demonstrated their correct pronunciation of "Riace" and "Laocoön."
ART HISTORY TEST QUESTION:
Why do we call Greek art heroic?
"We call Greek art heroic because is shows a sort of victory you can't explain.* Even in the Hellenistic Period when the Greeks were in despair, they had the Winged Victory, showing this dramatic happiness in them. She looks like a goddess who just saw her country win a very victorious battle."
-- Jolie, age 10
* Teacher's note to student: It is indeed possible to explain. You just need to know enough facts to explain it.
COMPARATIVE SCULPTURE ASSIGNMENT:
The Riace Warrior is a sculpture from the Classical Period. The sculpture called Laocoön is from the Hellenistic Period. Carefully examine the two statues. Answer the questions below (one paragraph per question).
Question 1: What is Classical about the Riace Warrior?
Question 2: What is Hellenistic about the Laocoön?
"The Riace Warrior is Classical because it shows the strength of the Greeks. It shows a man with power, with pride, and with strength. His face shows an intelligent, independently strong Greek who has won something to be proud of: a battle for Greece.
Things that are Hellentistic about the Laocoön are how sad the scene is: two young, strong boys and their once proud father being strangled to death. [] It looks like you just had a whole tragedy told to you in a scene. Their faces almost want to make you cry for this disasterous event that has happened to them."
-- Kian, age 11
- "What is Classical about the Riace Warrior is that he is triumphant and not in despair. He is a victorious warrior who just came back from war. He feels very proud and confident and he is calm. He is not frightened. The time the Riace Warrior was made was a peaceful time. The statue is standing up straight, and not cowering. His facial expression is fearless and has a, "Who wants to fight me now?" expression.
What is Hellenistic about the Laocoön is that he is in despair. The Greeks were in despair [] because Romans were conquering them. The Laocoön is a despairing and desperate sculpture, indicating something is wrong. Of course it would be a sad time if Greece was under attack, though!"
-- Matthew, age 9
ART HISTORY TEST QUESTION:
Is the "Winged Victory" a better sculpture than the "Adorer"? In your own words describe how the Mesopotamian "Adorer" statue is different from the "Winged Victory" of ancient Greece. Refer to the pictures of the "Adorer" and the "Winged Victory" that you see on the reference sheet. Describe their physical differences and the dfferent ways they were used. Then say why you think one is an improvement over the other, and why you think this improvement took place.
"The 'Winged Victory' is better than the 'Adorer.' The 'Adorer' is much more cude than the 'Winged Victory.' It has much less detail. The 'Winged Victory' is very realistic and has very fine details. The garment was delicately made. [] The 'Adorer' is less human-like and more 'doll-ish.' It makes you have the feeling you are looking at a doll. But when you look at the 'Winged Victory' you feel she is alive and actually there.
The 'Winged Victory' was used to look at, and it was [] at the front of the ship. The 'Adorer,' though, was used in a temple. It was to show that people would look at the gods. That's why it has the big eyes.
I think the 'Winged Victory' is an improvement over the other because it has been made with a passion for the human body, and the artist was a skilled one. The 'Adorer' was made to be in a temple and the artist wasn't paying that much attention to the real human body. I think the improvement took place in Greek art periods because the Greeks LOVED LIFE! They admired heroes and spent more time with the human body. They paid more attention to how beautiful, realistic, detailed, and delicate the body is than those who made a statue to put in a temple."
-- Matthew, age 10
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