Aw phooey!!

Well, due to some scheduling screw up today didn't end up being my very first computer class. So, I'm going to have to wait till the Spring Sessions for my very first class.

I was disappointed because I was really looking forward to teaching my first computer class.

It's fine because today ended up being probably my best day of February Fun Week. 11 to 13 year olds for the most part are great. I've had a few exceptions but for the most part the 11 to 13 year olds and the 14 to 16 year olds are the easiest to work with. 8 to 10 can be a mixed bag. I've had some really fantastic 8 to 10 year old classes much like my current Thursday session.

And then I've had ones that was like Romper Room. That is if Romper Room was hosted by Satan.

But it was really nice to close out the week on a really positive note. It's also made me consider starting to do the Animation Classes along with Andy, Jamie and Brian who are currently teaching the classes. What I want to do is drawn animation with the web cams they have set up at the Museum. I'm going to start talking with the Museum about doing some drawn animation classes in the Fall.

So, stay tuned!!

Feb (not entirely) Fun Week

Yesterday wasn't bad. Today was abysmal. But honestly, I'm comparing apples and oranges because yesterday I was working with 8 to 10 year olds and today was 5 to 7 year olds.

I had two kids start crying and one kid was an insufferable obnoxious brat the whole time who just wanted to screw around and pretty much be the center of attention. So, I just gave him some paint so he can pretty much vomit on the poster board with it.
What always gets me about these weeks is the parents who get pissed off over the fact that the kid either didn't do any work or the fact after two or three hours didn't come out with a finished piece. Honestly!! Give me a freakin' break!! You paid $20 for this class!! $20!!!!

And a lot of these times the reason the kid gets frustrated and cries is because the parent has put so much pressure on the poor kid that he or she is a complete basket case by the time I take them into the studio because they think I'm going to start acting like the school master from Pink Floyd the Wall because they can't draw or are having a tough time thinking about something.

Really people!! STOP IT!! This class was meant to be a fun activity for the kids to do. But at least I won't have to pay your child's psychiatric bills later in life because you've given them such an inferiority complex just because they didn't draw something Museum quality in a class called POSTER POWER!! And oh by the way!! THEY'RE 5 TO 7 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!

It is NOT fun for me have to play Dr. Phil because you have put such high expectations on your poor kid!! Did I mention that you paid $20!!!

$20 is a drop in the ocean.

Thankfully, I've learned to escape relatively undetected and avoid any nasty confrontations with any potentially angry parents.

I was definitely kind of glad my second class was cancelled. Although it was with older students. Unfortunately, even though it was for computer I had my doubts going into the session that 14 to 17 year olds would have any interest in Poster Power. Perhaps if they had added elements of comic art into the class. But I feel the whole concept probably wasn't going to draw any teenagers into the class. Oh well.

Well, one more day to go. Thankfully, this time it is with older students.