Art and Judgement Resolved

It dawned on me that, if you don’t follow me on Twitter and Facebook, you don’t know that since I wrote this post, so much more has happened.

The whole thing took on a life of it’s own online. But also, in real life.

I’ll start with real life.

After I wrote the post, I emailed my son’s 2nd grade teacher again. Well, I finally heard back on Thursday after school from the art teacher herself. She explained that my son didn’t follow her instruction, he was supposed to choose a color for the multi-cultural marker pack, one that was closest to his own skin color. She had a particular artist that the class was learning about (no, I have no clue which one) and there was particular lesson she was trying to convey. My son allegedly didn’t want to use the colors offered so, he chose grey. His defiance and lack of listening angered the teacher and she, admittedly, used words she shouldn’t have. In her email, she writes that she is very sorry for hurting his feelings. I wrote back, to the effect of, it’s all good, thanks for the response and sometimes adults need to watch what they say and how they say it to children because of the profound effect it could have.

I thought it was over and done with there.

I received an email later that evening from the principal of the school. My blog and the comments had come to their attention and, well, pleased wouldn’t be the word to describe what they felt.

OK, fine. I have a blog, I use it.

After a couple of email exchanges between the principal and myself, I agreed to come into school the next day, Friday, and meet with her to discuss the whole incident.

Imagine my surprise when the art class incident was overshadowed by something else entirely but, I’m still trying to figure out a way to write about that particular doozy.

BUT…

We did discuss the whole art class thing. And, the art teacher feels horribly that she hurt my son the way she did. She will, most likely, be formally apologizing to my son this week. I told the principal that I don’t, personally, need an apology because it had nothing to do with me, I was just advocating for my child.

As far as the school goes, we are moving forward with this particular incident behind us. I’ve been told that the art teacher feels my son has some untapped artistic talent (he gets that from my side of the family) and she’s been watching it begin to emerge. My parting words to her and the principal were…Let’s develop those mad artistic skills because I need someone to support me in my impending decrepit old age.

The most AMAZING part of this entire story though?

YOU. All of the internet. That blogpost about my son called Art and Judgement made it’s way all over the internet. Facebook, Twitter, fabulous blogs my comment section…you were all as angry and hurt for my son as I was.

Some of you, my fellow bloggers, asked if you could buy his picture. Some of you sent him emails.

YOU WERE AMAZING. You took a personal interest in this story, as though he was your own son. It moved me to tears.

The morning after I wrote my post, I let my son read the tweets and comments. The happiness and excitement he felt spilled out all over. He flew. All day. And nothing could bring him down. NOTHING.

This one amazing blogger in particular, who I can NEVER, EVER convey what she has done and who, in no words or gestures or gifts, I can ever repay…

She placed a matted and framed photo of my son’s picture in a N.Y gallery show.

And it sold.

A wonderful woman, an art teacher, bought it.

And then, another fabulous blogger who had wanted to buy this picture the night before but we weren’t thinking about selling it…

She commissioned him to create another picture.

When I told him that he had sold 2 pictures…aside from it confusing him because there is only one…

I can’t even describe to you the look on his face, the tone of his voice and the bounce in his step. And, he had already decided that he is going to buy K-mart out of their Lego Ninjagos. He figured that he doesn’t need to purchase more art supplies, he has parents to do that sort of thing for him.

You, my wonderful friends in my computer, have made a kid who originally thought his art sucked…

You’ve made him feel like a top notch, rock star artist. You’ve made him feel so good about himself. You’ve lifted him up so high that I’m going to be turning to you again to help me bring him back down soon!

My village. My friends.

You have outdone yourselves.

My gratitude runs so deep and so eternal.

You are a forest of Momma Bears and our children, ALL of our children, are so lucky to have that. This community.

My little artist and I say thank you. THANK YOU.

He drew one, just for you, as a Thank You note.

It’s called…Big Foot is Real…C. By: R. (created in pen on paper)

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