Hey Punk, Do You Feel Lucky?

Great story! The thought of having to spend the day with kindergartners makes me shake in my boots as well.
I do feel slightly lucky today. If all goes well I will be licensing one of my pieces for an anthology book cover. This came after a stint of waiting to hear back from the editor, I thought they had moved on. At a time currently where I'm scrounging to afford new tires because mine are currently bald... I feel like thanking my lucky stars.

Glad you survived it, Ronald. I was on my planning period one day years ago at the high school, and they called and told me to go watch a study hall class because the teacher had to leave. Ended-up getting between two girls (both much bigger than me) who got into a fight. Interesting period to say the least. :) .

One of the reasons I was never really keen on the idea of teaching Sunday School. Call me selfish!

Three years ago I went and did a series of five lectures on art at a high school in Stockton California. They had a decent set up with a lecture hall and everything. The first two went just fine but on the third one a fist fight broke out between several large boys. I am only 5'7" and 150 in weight so I just let them pound on each other till security got there. The funny thing was that most of the students paid little attention to the fight. Think they were use to it, on the other hand doubt they paid much attention to me either.

While living in San Diego I volunteered at The Boys and Girls Club for several years. One year I went to a new facility and requested no children younger than Middle School. I kept getting a class full of kids, large and small. I was used to size disparity in Middle schoolers so I let it ride. There were identical twin girls who seemed very mature but also small. I asked them how old are you? Eight, was the wide eyed reply. I kept at it for many weeks but finally had to tell the bosses that I was not a babysitting service.

Glenn, were there a lot of fights breaking-out at Sunday School? ;)

Kevin, youth activities can, and do, turn into a baby sitting service at times.

I was responding to Ronald's assertion that he had to "go teach Kindergarten". That age was a challenge! Kindergarten Cop Syndrome.

I've never faced Kindergarteners but I did volunteer to teach first graders chess once. They loved it.

:) Absolutely.

My advice to anyone who ever has to teach that age is show no fear! If they sense fear you are as good as dead!

"If they sense fear you are as good as dead!"

My knees aren't as good as they used to be, so that eliminates out-running them. :)

Seriously I don't know how kindergarten teacher's do it.

Ronald LOL...what a great story...show no fear...I love it and so true!

That story made me laugh out loud. I have a second grader, so it was not that long ago that I was helping out in the K room once a week. I would sometimes steel myself before going into the classroom by reminding myself that *I* was the grown-up...lol.

My sister has been a K teacher for 20 years. It's no coincidence that she only had one kid of her own.

Valerie, your sister is very brave!

Ronald W.,

Ironically, I think that select pieces of your art would be absolutely perfect for book covers that this age group would be keenly attracted to. And I am not being insulting. I'm serious. The image that you posted with this topic would be great on a book for young children.

Have you ever tried to get into this market?

Your stuff is so innocently and unpretentiously creative. And, yes, childlike, ... in a good way.

Thanks Robert, Never really tried that market, have had a bit of success in publication stuff. I do think that working with kids over the years has influenced my work but my interest lies more towards serious expression served in a way that hides the real intent.

Well, then, Ronald W., it works, because you sure succeeded in hiding the real intent from ME, since serious sensations are not at all what I get when viewing your images.

Interestingly enough the remarks I get the most are "Your paintings make me laugh", and "Your paintings give me nightmares." Sometimes creep me out is used instead of nightmares.

I always wondered why my kindergarten teacher seemed to be in a state of shock all the time.

And (in my best Jerry Seinfeld voice) why do they call it "kinder" garten anyway? What's so kind about it? Shouldn't it be called "lessthankindergarten" or maybe "shockgarten"? How about "He-double-tooth-picksgarten"?

Bill Tomsa

http://billtomsa.blogspot.com/