Art Class Offers Escape, Healing for Students

American students have experienced a worldwide health crisis, nationwide protests and school closings and restrictions¹ over the past two years. But art classes in schools have helped some students deal with their emotions and difficulties.

Teachers have used art and the humanities to teach complex subjects like racism². Students at Sullivan High School in Chicago, for example, wrote poetry and made pictures about subjects like imprisonment³ and slavery for a project based on The New York Times' 1619 Project.

Art classes like painting and drawing, as well as music and acting⁴ classes, provide a way for students to express themselves. The art or music room can also provide students an escape from the tensions of the school day, educators say.

"I remember students that only felt comfortable in the band room," said Gary Mayne. He was speaking to the non-profit organization Music for All based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mayne is a behavioral expert and former music teacher. "And the coolest thing about what we do for a living, is we ask kids to sit in a room" and express their feelings through music.

Some experts say art classes provide a way to teach social and emotional learning. Social and emotional learning deals with finding a way for students to control their emotions, have relationships with others and show empathy. Many schools place a lot of attention on social and emotional learning. This could be because students' mental health has become more of a concern following the coronavirus pandemic.

"Art educators, more so than most, they see kids for multiple years," Maurice Elias told Chalkbeat, a non-profit news provider. Elias is head of the Rutgers University Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab in New Jersey⁵. "They build strong relationships and connections with the kids. They have a tremendous influence on their mental health."

Sarah Potpinka teaches eight subjects as the only art teacher at Putnam High School in Connecticut. When classes went online, she asked her photography students to take pictures of how their lives had changed. Her drawing and painting students also made pieces reacting to the pandemic. Many of her students' work was "filled with rage," Potpinka told VOA.

One student who saw school as an escape from home life was unable to leave home during the pandemic. Through artwork, "she was able to express herself," but it was also a way for her teachers "to see where she was at mentally, since I wasn't hearing from her very often."

The troubling work from the student led to a discussion which would involve school mental health experts.

Potpinka said her art classes are often a "decompression time for students."

She said her school system is in a poor part of Connecticut. Many of her students care for younger relatives or work part-time jobs to provide their family with extra money.

Potpinka said one of her high school students recently had a child and had a difficult home life even before the pandemic. Potpinka said he is involved with the baby's life. But he is struggling with his schoolwork and at risk of dropping out, as school is no longer important to him.

The student has taken a strong interest in designing tattoo⁶ art. Tattoos⁷ are ink pictures drawn⁸ on a person's skin that are permanent. He has asked Potpinka for materials so he could work on his drawings outside of class.

"He can balance what he's been struggling with academically, with some success in the art room," Potpinka said. "It's nice to see him still working on something that captures him."

Shawna Longo is a longtime music teacher in New Jersey. She told Music for All that teaching music is a way for students to have fun while exploring their personalities⁹.

She said that in many years' time her students may not remember the notes to a song. But "they're going to remember how they felt. And that, to me, is of utmost importance."

Words in This Story

humanities — n. (pl.) areas of study (such as history, language, and literature) that relate to human life and ideas

comfortable — adj. not causing any physically¹⁰ unpleasant feelings; producing physical comfort

empathy — n. the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions

multiple — adj. more than one

tremendous — adj. very large or great

rage –n. a strong feeling of anger that is difficult to control

decompression — n. the process of reducing pressure; to rest and relax

academically — adv. related to school or education

utmost — adv. to the utmost or highest level

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

3 imprisonment   

n.关押，监禁，坐牢

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• He was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for committing bigamy.他因为犯重婚罪被判入狱一年。

4 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

5 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

6 tattoo   

n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于

参考例句：

• I've decided to get my tattoo removed.我已经决定去掉我身上的纹身。
• He had a tattoo on the back of his hand.他手背上刺有花纹。

7 tattoos   

n.文身( tattoo的名词复数 )；归营鼓；军队夜间表演操；连续有节奏的敲击声v.刺青，文身( tattoo的第三人称单数 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击

参考例句：

• His arms were covered in tattoos. 他的胳膊上刺满了花纹。
• His arms were covered in tattoos. 他的双臂刺满了纹身。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

9 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

10 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。