Artless

Fort Worth schoolchildren get a lesson in censorship

A A A Comments By Annabelle Massey Helber Thursday, Jan 20 2000

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Stephens believes the debate is good for art. She advocates common sense when controversy invades the classroom, or when an effective arts program appears threatened by a few squeaky wheels. Sometimes the squeaking comes from the non-art teachers who are intimidated by art in general or too busy to preview a museum exhibition.

"Each school, each classroom, and each teacher is different," Stephens says. "They have to know their own culture and what their parents want and what they'll demand." She says that teachers who expand their own education and exposure to the arts will have the best chance to help students over any rough spots. "Teachers have to feel comfortable in a museum too. It's not just thinking about the kids."

Mark Graham

Fort Worth schoolchildren go eye to eye with Andy Warhol

Coming soon to a lunch box near you -- Francis Bacon's "Study for the Head of a Screaming Pope."

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Nudity, references to alternative lifestyles, or depictions of sex can require some explanations that go beyond what a typical teacher believes is his or her responsibility. Still, other teachers wonder whether all the worry is necessary. "Kids have been giggling over tits and ass in National Geographic magazine for decades," one teacher says. "You don't see a school district throwing those magazines out of the library, do you?"

Thornton says she's not sure whether the Fort Worth schools will participate in tours of the Modern's upcoming "2000 BC: The Bruce Conner Story Part II," an exhibit designed to be an introduction to the "mysterious and compelling" work of an artist who was part of the 1950s-'60s "Beat" movement. A review committee of two teachers, one parent, and one administrator will begin reviewing upcoming museum shows before Fort Worth classes can participate.

"I think at some point there will be parents within the district that will realize that something's been taken away from their child in order to accommodate the desires of other parents," Thornton says. "I think they'll speak up and realize that censorship has been at play and they didn't really know it. So at that point something will happen. You hope it happens sooner than later."

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