Another Art Show down.  As usual, I had a great time.  This year's bunch of helpers were wonderful.  Some might questions a couple of my choices, but they proved themselves worthy.  Other teachers might have seen who I picked (two in particular) and thought I made a stupid mistake because they would never have selected them. However, watching those kids work their asses off helping me and other teachers was really nice.  As a matter of fact, this was the smoothest set up in a couple of years and I give full credit to my kids.

Last night's turnout was a bit light.  I think a lot of families might have already headed away for the long weekend.  I camped out by the photo stuff, nary a colleague in sight and that suited me fine. I saw so many former students.  So many of them talk about how they miss the class.  Some keep shooting.  Some take a photo class in college.  Some even do side photography regardless of the major.  One gal shot for Smithville and they used her images on their website.  I will be meeting her for coffee after the school year ends.  We have a lot to catch up on.  I talked to her and a couple of others about politics and the volunteer work I do.

I always ask for feedback from the alumni.  The consensus was that this year's photography was great. They thought it keeps getting better.  Some are bummed to see new processes they didn't get to do, but I console them with the fact that they did things I didn't do this year.  The positive feedback regarding the work and the new set up was good and I took it all in.

I also talked to a lot of family members.  There were even a couple of kids who were working but their family came.  That meant a great deal to me.  A student cannot help the work schedule, but the work they do with me means enough to them that they want to make sure the people that mean the most to them see the results of their effort and creativity.  Those kids whose parents didn't or refused to see the significance of this were on my mind as I drove home.  I just know that there are some kids who have no one who gives a sh*t and I feel rotten about that.  I am immensely proud of the work they do, and I wish that was enough.

So the other big thing on my mind on the drive home?  The threat of losing the darkroom.  It looms bigger than ever right now.  Apparently, the autism/inclusion program is expanding and the word on the street is that the whole hall will be for them in a couple of years, including my room.  Photo is not supposed to go away, but the darkroom will be gone.  No one says that the whole program as is will be moved,  The word is that no darkroom - photo will be only digital.  Well, if you pay any attention to what goes on at the art show you will learn one thing:  The darkroom is the heart of the program as I run it and I am the one that was given the task to revive the program in 2006.  It is the foundation of it, it is its strength, it is what enables most of the kids to succeed.  Take a look at some of the names on those name tags.  Then take this in:  That work is most likely made in the darkroom.  That means this:  That student learned how to operate a manual film camera, take photographs on black and white negative film, develop that film, and then make enlargements in the darkroom.  Every single kid has done that and none of them had an aide.  Let's put it this way...  There are years that the pile of classroom adjustments from IEPs of the kids I have is so thick, it lands with a loud thud if I drop that pile to the floor.  Any and every kind of learning disability, emotional disturbance, physical disability, developmental disability?  I get them.  The Child Study Team knows this.  The head of the Special Ed department knows this.  Guidance knows this. And I rarely have kids drop my periods.  That cannot be said for other teachers.   Hell, this year, I even had a girl in period 6 who took one of the kids from the inclusion autism program and had him print in the darkroom.

And you think you can just get rid of the darkroom?  For what?  To save money?  To gain square footage?  If this school does that, they will prove just how little they care for the good of the whole student body.  We already know that the kids feel that the sports kids are the only ones that matter here.  However, with our new super, that feeling might just change.  But if you get rid of the darkroom for the inclusion program, you might be giving the people who run that program what they claim they need.  But you will be taking something away from students who have no advocates and never speak up for themselves.  One example?  There was a student a few years ago with incredible anxiety.  He was on home instruction for some time. There might have been depression issues as well.  He even started crying with me at one point his senior year.   A boy, crying to a female teacher...  in PV, testosterone central.  Let that sink in.   However, he now runs his own photo business.  Successfully.  He gives my program a little bit of credit for that because he had success in my class.  Those are some of the kids that will lose out if you get rid of this darkroom.

To be honest, I am mentally ready to go at any point.  I know I can be RIF'd.  Any teacher of a special has to be mentally ready in this high stakes testing climate.  I have had arts teacher friends who have been RIF'd.  But the harm that will be done to the kids will be on the consciences of those who make that decision to decimate this program.  Oh, and I have always been the only teacher in this department to have to deal with this threat.  I have been moved around, told to fix photo, expanded both programs I taught (yeah, I expanded Sculpture years ago too).  I know it is all part of the game in this place, but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow.