The comfort of choice or the choice of comfort? On educational strategies in a school of fine arts

(based on the author’s own teaching experiences)

Abstract

One of the metaphors of the modern world is the supermarket metaphor. On the one hand, a supermarket is synonymous the lesser quality. On the other hand, a supermarket brings with it the comfort of choice. The supermarket as a space for choice should be inspirational for education. I’m talking about construction, by the teacher, of a process that would allow the pupil real choice of areas or methods of work. The teacher still plays the key role in this scenario, but as an idea-giver and animator of attractive tasks, from which the pupil chooses those most appealing to him/her. And it is the pupil who is de facto the main actor in this process. The enterprises I developed and put into practice at the Liceum Plastyczne (High School of Fine Arts) in Poznan fit into such a supermarket paradigm. These were: “Passive pupil – active pupil” workshops, the pedagogical innovation “Personility of a subject”, and also “Baroque supermarket” project activities which completed another pedagogical innovation – “Playing for Art”.