Tennessee

On this page, we offer a snapshot of the stories of Tennessee-based art educators, selecting direct quotations, each of which represent a unique participant. Due to the confidential nature of the data, the teacher’s names, and mention of their school or district have been removed.

share your story

What art teachers are saying:

Impact on teacher identity:

“Art has always been such a safe space for people. If you’re different, this is a place for you. I don't know how many kids over the years have come to me not necessarily to share anything about who they were or who they thought they were, but they knew that they could come to me and be accepted and loved and valued and treated decently. And I feel like these laws and everything are being put in place and they cause fear and anxiety within teachers where they hesitate.” - Art Educator, Tennessee

On Policy:

“Policymakers don't recognize the fact that art teachers open doors to other content areas for students who think differently, who are differently abled, who approach things in different ways.” — Art Educator, Tennessee

Strategies of Persistence:

“Art’s possibility is braving discomfort and existing in ambiguity. And that, as a potential, like this is what we teach, is how to look at images, how to take information and synthesize and think critically and create into voids and create counter narratives and narratives. I think in particular, like I know, like humanities in general, and I guess sciences too, everybody is affected by what we're allowed to teach. But I think that art in particular, it feels really gut wrenching to have to change things that feel so core to what we do.”— Art Educator, Tennessee

Choose your method of participation

WRITE
UPLOAD
CALL
TEXT
Join