Fast is NOT Fabulous

Think about what kids hear for a good portion of their school day.

"You need to read faster"
"Can you complete your timed test of math facts faster"
"Hurry up, we have to leave"
"Lunch is almost over, hurry up and eat faster"
"The bell has rung, you had better hurry"
"Move along"

Yes, we have all met those kids that are slower than molasses in the winter, BUT when you think about it, many of the tasks that kids are completing at school, are things they are also learning at school.  The basic school day is driven by the clock and general ed teachers have about a thousand and one things that must be accomplished--times however many students happen to be in their room.
As a visual arts teacher, my day is also driven by the clock.  Class starts at a specific time, and I have to be ready.  Class also ends at a specific time and the students have to leave because they have somewhere else to be at that time, and I also have another group of students arriving.  Report cards, progress reports and grades are due on a specific date.  Bells ring, schedules and time tables must be met.

Now consider the creative process, whether creating art or problem solving-it just doesn't run on the same time table.  How many times have you had a great idea, or figured out a solution to a problem while in the shower? Or driving to work? How do you get students to relax, not worry about being first, and create on their own time table while simultaneously convincing administrators and parents that even though Johnny doesn't have a grade yet he is working very hard-he just needs more time?

Well....you don't.  All you can do is try to explain the process and hope that by the end of the quarter, semester or even the year that all of your students have something wonderful for the art show.  What I choose to spend my time on is the students.  If I can get them to realize that "Fast is NOT Fabulous" and that just because someone else finished before them it does NOT mean that that person's work is superior!

This is yet another process.  That I work on with the kids.  Every day.  Every project.  Because no matter how hard I try many of them still seem to think that there is a prize for being first, and as soon as one child is "done" those that are "not done" instantly begin to feel inferior.  And I have no idea why!  Perhaps it has something to do with today's fast paced world.  Instant downloads and instant gratification seem to have greater appeal than waiting for something wonderful to happen.

Just as the tortoise once beat the hare, I hope that someday the process of creating something uniquely wonderful will be regarded as important as how fast you can solve 100 division problems!