I’d talk to the teacher first. Ask her to clarify whether the type of subject was specified in the assignment, what criteria it was graded on, how the student would know that the realistic depiction of a human form was inappropriate on this assignment. Politely. If the answers aren’t reasonable, I’d calmly explain why I thought the grade should be reevaluated.
If I wasn’t satisfied with the results of the conversation, I’d have it again with an administrator.
But I’d definitely talk to the teacher first, as it’s more likely to have an effect than going over her head. Most administrators will not override a grade, though they’ll have firm words with a teacher if it seems to be warranted. She might, after all, be willing to rethink the matter, or there might have been more to the assignment- why assume malice until it’s proven?
As for another teacher to grade it. It wasn’t too gratuitous was it? From you post, it sounds like appropirate attention to detail.
Mind you, it could be a storm in a teacup. As long as it doesn’t impact too much on the final grade and he’s not too crushed, just get your nephew to play along. He’s got to learn to play by someone else’s rules once and a while, and teachers are temporary - so don’t sweat it.
That teacher is an idiot who should not be teaching art. I have been taking art classes since I was quite young, privately and through school, nudes were about the most common thing we drew when I took private classes. We didn’t draw nudes at school, but we certainly studied classic art, and those old guys sure painted a lot of nekkid people.
Ask the teacher first. Maybe just maybe your nephew was causing grief with the picture (saying this is a picture of Teacher for instance) and was being the class jerk that day. But. if the teacher cannot give a completely good reason for her strange grading, then go to the principal, and gring that teacher into the dirt. Threaten to take the story to local papers, if the Principal isn’t most helpful.
In other words, deal with the teacher, how you would have her deal with your Nephew if he handed in work late. There may be a perfectly good reason. But if there isn’t, then disciplin of some form is needed.
sounds like the teacher isn’t really a true art teacher. the visual arts department at my school would praise that type of painting like mad. it’s normal at my school to walk through the art gallery and see naked portraits of students or stand-in’s or pictures of one of the students in a bathroom reading a book or posing in some way…i see nothng wrong with the picture but since i’m used to it…i may not have the greatest valued opinion.
and to clarify it’s an arts highscool so the majority of the people painting/taking these pictures are 14-17 years of age. never had a parent or teacher complain…as far as i know
mebbe nephew misunderstood, maybe the teacher said “still life” and was expecting fruit, like bananas (well, no can’t have bananas, we all know what they symbolize), or peaches (no, again), or melons (nope), or cherries :eek: ,
well, maybe just an empty bowl …
I was a high school teacher. The student’s parents should make an appointment to talk with the teacher and show up with a visable tape recorder. If her explaination is unsatisfactory, then talk with the school principal.
Give the system a chance to work.
Recently I saw a director on TV wearing a t-shirt that said FEAR NO ART. Not a bad motto.
Unfortunately, not always in high school. I knew one girl in particular in HS who was an amazing artist in doing sketches, paintings, pen-and-ink, anything. Great, great skill. She failed every single one of her art classes because her drawings were too “depressing,” “disturbing,” or even “meaningless!”
Needless to say, high school art “teachers” often don’t know a damn thing about art. Who knows where they get some of them . . . failed math teachers, maybe.
Grr! Second time I’m posting this! Damned hamsters! Glad I cut and pasted it the first time.
TRIPY! Well my fellow dopers, I owe you all an apology. It appears there is indeed another side to this story. What my nephew neglected to tell me was that this
picture bared an amazing resemblance to the art teacher. The art teacher called my sister (his mother) and told her what the deal was and that she didn’t think it
appropriate for a student to draw his or her teacher in that way. [shrugs what ever] She also said initially she was upset and that is why she gave him the “F” but after
she cooled down she changed the grade to a “C” and she also gave him the option to redo the assignment or keep it as a “C”.
Well at least you now know one of the great natural truths: “If a teenager gives you an It’s-Just-So-Unfair excuse for why they received an F for an assignment chances are they’re lying”.
Seems like much more an issue of principle than Principal, but I agree with blowero regardless. This is High School Art class. Kids do work that goes into a Portfolio, and their entrance to Art School is judged on said Portfolio.
You’re going to apply to S.V.A. or Pratt of University Of The Arts or SCAD or Tyler or anywhere else, and have small black dots of tape COVERING the nipples because they might offend??? What? Please. ( I know, nobody said that was gonna happen, I’m just saying that’s the next “logical” step ).
The School District Art Dept. head needs to be brought into the mix immediately. That is the person teaching the Portfolio classes, and with the greatest world view of such works done by a H.S. kid.
