Photograph by Robert Scheer
Art docent Lisa Rauschmayer helps students draw Egyptian patterns with crayons.
By Tim Persyn
Give a class of Saratoga Union School District students some crayons, watercolors and a collection of Greek urn cut-outs, and you might end up thinking you're in ancient Greece.
For the past few years, the SUSD Art Docent program has been infusing art instruction and expression into the district's curriculum, cultivating the creativity and artistic talents of young students. The recent student excursion into Greek art was a part of the program
The docent program consists of a group of over 100 volunteer parents dedicated to the notion that artistic instruction is a significant aspect of the education of young people. These parents go into the classroom to provide opportunities for artistic instruction and expression.
The program evolved as budget cuts hindered the ability of the district to provide instruction on art. It relies on funding from the PTA and the Saratoga Education Foundation.
Art docents give their time and energy to see that kids don't miss out on being exposed to art.
"There are so many ways kids benefit," said docent Sarah Lovgren. "They learn about creative thinking. This (Saratoga) is such an academic area; this program is a chance for artistic kids to shine."
She explained that the Art Docent program emphasizes the fine arts.
Mary Gardner, superintendent of SUSD, said the docent program is critical to art instruction in the district, due to the impact budget cuts have had on teaching staff. "I think the visual and performing arts are a critical part of any person's education."
Docent Lovgren has a degree in art history. She said many art docents have no art background, although they receive appropriate instruction before going into the classroom to teach young people.
Each year, the art docent program has three different projects. Two are district-wide programs, and one is based in the SPECTRA program developed by Kay Alexander of Palo Alto.
SPECTRA provides a framework for the instruction of art to young people. It consists of lessons which are adapted to each grade level. Kindergartners might get basic instruction on patterns while more advanced students might dive into issues surrounding two-point perspective.
The real benefit of the Art Docent program comes with young people expressing themselves artistically.
One of the district programs this year has to do with learning Greek art in association with the Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta. On one particular day, third and fourth grade students designed Greek urns.
There were as many different designs as there were children in the room. After each student created his or her own urn with its own distinctive art, each student then gave their urn an orange color wash. This wash helped give the urns the look of authentic Greek vases.
The energy and creativity of the students was infectious enough to inspire even the shyest artists to express themselves.
"Art is the purest form of human expression," Lovgren said, as the students worked in the background.
Lisa Rauschmayer, also an art docent, gave a lecture on ancient Greek art and culture before the students designed their urns.
"Through the program, the students understand that they are artists. It brings out their creativity," she said.
Most of all, the Art Docent program is just plain fun. "That's the bottom line: to have fun," Lovgren said with a smile.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, May 22, 1996.
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