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The Art Teachers Union |
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05.10.07 |
The Art Teachers Union was formed in 1981. Members are artists of the
plastic arts, degree holders of the Athens School of Fine Arts, of the
plastic arts department of the school of fine arts of the Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki, and of equivalent foreign schools, who
teach art lessons in the secondary education.
When the union was formed, the number of members was rather small, adding up to a few dozens. Today it counts approximately 1000 members. In their vast majority, these members teach in public schools – secondary high schools, lyceums and technical schools all over Greece, while some are reassigned to teach in elementary schools.
Plastic artists who teach in private schools have also become union members.
The union’s main contribution consists in the fact that it gathered, organized and set into coordinated motion and activity hundreds of artist teachers, almost everyone who works in public education.
That fact gave a new dimension and in reality a new content to the role of the art teacher and art teaching in general.
The Art Teachers Union, since it was formed in 1981, has shaped and developed into an active and independent collective entity in the field of education. Indisputably the union leaves behind a positive account of work. However, increasing difficulties and problems are now ahead of us.
In the new educational environment created, especially in the last few years, despite the huge efforts, the demands and the initiatives taken with a great sense of responsibility, art education lingers on and is threatened by further shrinking and downgrading.
We owe to take steps, and will do so in the future, in the direction of changing this situation. By pointing out the problems, highlighting the fundamental and convincing claims, insisting on promoting the uncompromising aims of the Union, for the establishment, strengthening, and development of art education.
1. The professional consolidation, the promotion of the branch of art teachers in secondary education and the improvement of their working conditions within the schools.
2. The promotion and improvement of the given art learning in education, and the contribution in solving the educational problems related to art learning.
3. The broader projection of art work created by members of the Union, both of their personal work as artists, as well as their work as educators.
4. The development of mutual help among the Union members and the development of a spirit of co-operation with the other teachers, as well as solidarity with other artist unions (non-educational) that have similar aims.
(extract from the memorandum of the union, article 2)
Number of verdict of the numerous court of the first instance of Athens for the forming of the Union 955 1981 (4-2-1981).
Voluntary contribution
Whatever activation of members within the context of our Union and for the aims of the Union is voluntary. It is a contribution that can’t have any other reward apart from the moral satisfaction that we gave our contribution to this or to that sector for the promotion of our collective aims that is the establishment, strengthening and development of art education, the upgrading of the collective status and the individuality of art educators. In that context, personal work is without pay, weather it concerns educative seminars, filming, gathering and processing material (slides for example), the care of our publications or whatever else.
Although that voluntary work comes up against obvious difficulties (time to spare, personal obstacles, etc.), it is nevertheless the only foundation on which collective work can be based. That foundation we must preserve and safeguard like a non-disputable achievement, without which no collective issue would ever have any future.
Not only its members must contribute to the Union, but the Union also, as a collective representative of its members, beyond the general output, must try to offer, freely if possible, the products of that collective work, like for example slides, books, magazines, etc.
That, as we know, is not possible in most of the cases, or it is done in very few cases, cases in which for example we had some financial grant.
And we all understand that it’s not been done, not because that’s how it should be, but because we don’t have the financial capability to act differently, as there are expenses that must be covered.
The direction however, regarding the disposal of several supervisory and other material to our members, if not totally free, must be carried out with the minimum cost. That is what we try to do, and it’s something that we must particularize in every case, taking into account always our financial status. In general that must be our tendency and we hope that in the future things will improve in that sector.
Translated from Greek by Stathis Panou
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