1) What inspired Dr. Asher to become an art teacher?
Dr. Asher has been an artist and community activist her entire life. When
she found as an undergraduate that she was completing arts credits, her
family asked her how exactly she would pursue a profession, and suggested
education. Dr. Asher received an MFA from Lehman College and, eventually,
an Ed.D from Columbia University. She feels fortunate to be able to bridge
her love of art with a love of education and teaching others how to express
themselves.
2) To Dr. Asher, what are the positives of an art education?
In Dr. Asher’s experiences, art is positive in education because children
respond to art and children can find individual ways to express themselves. It
is a medium that is accessible to everyone.
3) Can art connect to other disciplines, such as mathematics and science?
According to Dr. Asher, there can be a tremendous connection to other areas
of study. For example, Dr. Asher taught a class about the study and depiction
of the human anatomy. She has also cited other areas such as the selection
of certain colors to evoke certain psychological responses, and knowledge
of units of measurement in bookmaking. There is much more of a bridge
between the arts and math/science than one might originally think.
4) Have there been any significant studies that document the benefit of the
arts on general education?
Dr. Asher cites two prominent social scientists – Elliot Eisner, who is
Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, and philosopher Maxine Greene
– as pioneering significant works defending and promoting the presence of
arts in a multidisciplinary education.
5) Our research found that more and more schools are cutting fine arts
programs from their budget. Does this trend seem to be reversing or
continuing?
In Dr. Asher’s experience, she finds that the presence of these programs is
cyclical. Often, when there are times of economic crisis, the arts programs
will be the first to be cut. As a repercussion of this, new graduates in art
education are having difficulty finding jobs. For example, just seven years
ago, students under her program were finding jobs easily and quickly, but Dr.
Asher says that now recent graduates are struggling. Dr. Asher seems to feel,
however, that this will recover.
6) Has anything emerged to support children artistically in the wake of
these budget cuts within the visual arts? One program supporting the
performing arts, for example, is the All-Stars Project. Is there anything
present in the visual arts?
According to Dr. Asher, there are many programs within the city that
have emerged and continue to support students artistically, even if
they are not receiving the same kind of support in school. Dr. Asher
lists multiple programs such as Queens Museum of Art, Lincoln Center
Institute, Youth Connections, and Groundswell in Brooklyn.
