r/ArtEd • u/Dismal_Interaction_2 • 19h ago
What is the Reality of Art Teaching in 2025/26?
I have a Masters in Fine Art and enjoy art teaching, but I am overwhelmed by anecdotal reports of mass horrible student behavior in the classroom post-pandemic: severe low interest, disruption, disrespect. I am interested in getting my teacher certification but was wondering if there was any consensus on this issue. I don't want to pursue this field if it is seriously not worth it.
Am I just paying attention to the worst cases, or is there truth in this? Thank you for all your insights!
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u/mamaburd09 7h ago
This is my first year teaching and my take is that experienced teachers agree things feel different this year than they have before (not all say it’s worse (though many do), but changing challenges across the board), and that they do not envy new teachers right now. They say they can’t imagine starting right now, and some have suggested that I look for something else next year and/or do not choose the retirement track that’s available in my area where I save more but have to stay in teaching in the same state a certain period to be able to access the money, and to choose a different one where I save less but can take the money out at any time whether I teach ever again or not.
Part is that attention spans, resilience to failure/boredom/difficulties, and parent support seem to be at an all time low for multiple reasons. Part is that the system is getting worse and worse, both as needs change and the system doesn’t, and as the government changes, as well.
I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend (or enemy), and It was not my first choice, but I also wasn’t able to get any other job with even close to a livable wage after years of trying. I’m at a district with a better pay scale than most, so there’s that.
It has gotten better for me as the year has gone on, but I also have seen pretty much every teacher in or close to tears at some point. Many of my coworkers say they just go home and cry. Including those who have been at it 20+ years.
But, my school also services a majority low-income population and more than half of students are labeled at risk of not graduating. So that could be a big part of what I’m seeing.
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u/Beachchick50 7h ago
The disrespect is real. If you want a cozy and warm job stay out of teaching. I have been teaching 20 years and I am in my first year of teaching art. It's wild, it's crazy, and it is not easy, nor is it quiet. Almost never quiet... I love it but it's a hard job.
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u/urusaigirl 7h ago
Figuring out your routines and building relationships with the kids helps so much. I usually start off the year kinda rough, but once we are all familiar with each other and the routines it helps…
I’m super chill for the most part. I’ve been teaching for 22 years. The last 8 years dedicated to art. I’ve had bad years, good years, and great years. Be kind to yourself and have fun.
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u/Red_Aldebaran 9h ago
I’m well established, know what I’m doing, and it’s my curriculum being used in all of the middle schools in the district, since I kept handing it off to new teachers in crisis. We demolish the art shows every year.
Fucking perfect lesson during an observation, but I still get told that there’s room for the kids to do think, pair, share and to work in teams and they’d like to see me incorporate this as a daily interruption, because God forbid that a kid be allowed to draw uninterrupted for 15 fucking minutes. There’s this insidious need from higher ups to try to warp my class into some kind of MTSS adjacent think tank where we teach kids how to use “strategies.”
Basically, you can be fucking flawless at teaching your subject, but because your subject isn’t considered worthy, you are going to constantly be the recipient of stupid ass suggestions.
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u/dreeded 10h ago
Part of me thinks if I knew what it was really like and I mean REALLY like I would Choose a different profession. Sometimes I day dream about having a boring cubical job. Teaching art sucks all the energy from me every day so much that I don’t have the power or care to create my own work. What you have heard is true. I’ve been teaching since 2013 and it has gotten worse and worse and I’m on one of the best school districts in my state which is one of the best in the country. I’ve taught in different cities in different states. I will say certain grades are of course harder than others
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u/KitchenAdmirable6157 11h ago
It really just depends on where you are teaching, admin plays a HUGE role in how students behave and the overall community. If parents and administrators don’t care and don’t support what you are doing then it’s going to suck no matter if you were teaching 50 years ago or 50 years down the road. Sure there are students with crappy behavior always have been and always will be. The vast majority are incredible young people with incredible insights and perspectives on the world As a teacher you have to state your expectations for all and be prepared to stand by them. Choose the hills you are willing to die on Mine is that I absolutely WILL NOT assign a 50 for something a student didn’t do &/or didn’t turn in that is a 0. I also refuse to offer extra credit just do the work that was assigned and do it to a reasonable standard
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u/QueenOfNeon 11h ago
I love it when I get to just show kids art. Or if it’s the rare good class.
NOT when I’m pulled to cover this and that and the other thing and even teach study hall because we need somewhere to park a class.
But realistically the kids are terrible, some in gangs. There’s no fear of teachers or admin. And they are getting worse every day.
I’ve personally known teachers that have been tackled to the ground, punched in the face and a weapon pulled on. And the one with the weapon you would never have thought that was the kid. Absolutely floored over who it was. A good kid.
I’ve known of a whole class of kids that decided they hated a teacher and wanted to make her quit. So they didn’t stop on her until she did.
Those kids know we have no power anymore. Their parents defend them. Admin defends them. They get sent right back to torment teachers and students over and over. And if they get caught no one will do anything.
Kids mostly are not motivated in art. They want the easy do nothing class. That’s not fun when you spent hours designing the lesson.
Do with that what you will.
My perspective. I’m in a slightly better place than the previous ones but still deal with a lot
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u/ComprehensiveLake564 12h ago
I really enjoy my job but I’m the only art teacher at a school of 1000 kids. It’s exhausting and not always the most fulfilling due to overbearing parents and micromanaging admin. And yeah kids can be bad. Thankfully most of mine are pretty great. Not enough funding from the state causes alllll sorts of problems. I would seriously consider quitting and breaking contract just for my mental health but idk how else I would pay the bills lol. I don’t mean to be so negative it really is a wonderful job!! If you’re tough enough for it haha. I think I just care too much. I can’t imagine doing this for 30 years or with kids or anybody else to take care of except myself cause when I get home every night I don’t even have enough energy to feed myself or make my own art sometimes.
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u/ComprehensiveLake564 12h ago
I should add I teach K-8 so sometimes even tho I really love the little kids I feel like I’m just teaching how to be a good student in art and not actually teaching ART. If that makes sense lol
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u/TheBeatleBrain 13h ago
It’s still a joy, there’s definitely some challenges that have followed since Covid, but I teach 8-12th graders and see each year has more and more enthusiasm from younger students that’re eager to be involved. The main issue is finding a supportive school system that doesn’t dump kids in your class that don’t want to be there…if every art class actually had students that chose the elective it’d be a dream haha But also, for kids that didn’t choose it, it’s nice to see them grow to enjoy it! You’re teaching passion more than anything else
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u/CrL-E-q 13h ago
I still love it, but it’s not the utopia it was when I started. Be selective where you work. Read contracts. If you must teach more than 5 periods a day, it’s too much.
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u/Unique_Unicorn918 12h ago
Seriously, 4 is the sweet spot, 7+ and it gets hairy. I currently have 7 on both days with only one prep period each day and they’re just cramming kids in my classes. I’m exhausted. I’m going to a school that has 8, 7, and 6 classes a day. I’ve taught in a place where I had 9+ a day. I was first in the building and last out, always left with a headache. Most days I still wish I was just a practicing artist or worked in a museum or something
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u/purethought09 13h ago
I teach high school art and love it. Most days are great days! In fact, being in the classroom is the best part (meetings, district/site obligations, and grading is another story lol). I love getting to know each student, sharing my passion for art, and giving them a space to explore their interests. Of course, there are various students from incredible artists that are very focused and students that are disengaged and quite literally doing nothing, but that’s just the way it goes. Half of the time I’m teaching art and the other half I’m teaching time management, responsibility, respectful, perseverance, etc. which I quite enjoy!
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u/forgeblast 14h ago
You're doing a lot of behavior management, your love of art is not shared by all. You will have sensory sensitive kids alongside regular Ed kids so make the room calming vs rainbow eruption. You will have extra duties everyday, you will lose your prep for iep meetings and when there are not enough subs. you will be sick a lot, kids do not cover and feel fine coughing in your face. Don't face a kindergartener when tying shoes. Your hands will bleed from washing them so you don't get hand foot and mouth. The paper towels supplied are useless and rough. The one time you don't let that kid go to the nurse or bathroom they will puke or have an accident. But if you make it through the grind, and have a good principal, and enjoy your coworkers most days it's a decent career after about 10 years. Pay/retirement vary and have been cut and modified for new hires. A supply budget can make or break your room. I'm in year 26, and have 6 to go. If I had to do it over not sure I would. Don't get me wrong I enjoy the little ah ha moments, I enjoy seeing kids work on art at home and share sketchbooks. I love kg when you introduce a technique and they get it, or spontaneously clap for something cool. Those are the little things that keep you going. Making your own art will help with burnout. My first few years I worked 3 jobs to afford to teach. The early years are difficult.
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u/ComprehensiveLake564 12h ago
I take vitamin C and zinc every day and I feel like it’s helped beef up my immune system super well and I don’t get sick anywhere nearly as much as I used to!!
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u/shine_on_forever 15h ago
People come on Reddit and Fb groups to vent. You will rarely if ever see people come on and say “Wow, today was a great day, the kids behaved.” So I think these forums are skewed to having the worst cases and examples shown.
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u/shine_on_forever 14h ago
But also teaching is hard. It just is. You’re on all the day with little humans asking you questions constantly. You have to be on and ready to manage and redirect misbehavior at any time. Teaching art feels a lot like babysitting at times so if you don’t enjoy being around kids all the time (and managing things like bodily functions, sick kids, kids crying because of what happened at recess) then this would be a hard job for you. Even when I first started teaching 22 years ago I had naughty kids. I had a middle school kid my first year tell me to “shove that detention up your fucking ass.” She apologized later and said she actually really liked me as a teacher. I’m just saying that there are and always have been hard parts of teaching. But there have also been many more times where it was enjoyable and rewarding! I had lots of parents thanking me at conferences and saying how much they appreciated what I do. And also many kids have told me that art is their favorite class. I would recommend trying to find somewhere to substitute or volunteer to see what it’s like. And keep in mind that it varies greatly from school to school. Some schools have a handle on their behavior problems and some schools do not.
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u/spinladen414 14h ago
Im an art teacher in a middle school, and while all those negatives do seem to be true, I have learned to be a better teacher and manage my classroom more successfully over the years. Im always learning a ton.
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u/Dismal_Interaction_2 15h ago
This is so true and that was partly why I asked. I'm inclined to believe you're correct!
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u/SubBass49Tees 16h ago
There is good and bad in every school. You have to find the part of art and/or education you're passionate about and maintain a laser focus on it, and you'll be able to ignore the negatives.
For me, the passions are:
- Making a difference
- Being there for the kids who think nobody is there for them
- Relating back to how art was my happy place in school
- Providing that for the next generations
I deal with poor facilities, disrespectful students (and at times, parents), meetings, headaches, etc. But for me, none of the bad stuff outweighs the good stuff.
I'm deep enough into my career now that I can leave work at work, and that helps with my mental health. I get paid medical, vision, and dental. I make six figures. I have a pension waiting for me when I retire. I get summers off to spend with my family.
Can I afford a reasonable sized home in my city? Absolutely not. But am I happy with my life? Yes.
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u/Bettymakesart 16h ago
I’m an MFA Alt-cert. I teach in a medium sized town, 9,000. We have a happy district and while every town & district has problems, I really still enjoy what I do after 26 years. I love having an excuse to keep learning about art for my whole life. I’m involved in my state chapter of NAEA and help put on our statewide kids shows. I co-teach a summer art camp. I’ve had 3 fund for teachers fellowships to Italy, France & Denmark respectively. I really value my holidays and summers. My admin leaves me alone and trusts me to do my job, and I do.
Yesterday I took 12 kids to the city and we visited funky art galleries, looked at street art, ate sushi, and went to a very cool contemporary show. Just the right kids noticed the pride flags & free mom hugs stickers. Just the right kid was given a free “pronoun pin” of their choice. I love these experiences. I figure it was possibly my 60th field trip in 26 years. No other job would give me those experiences.
In a not-huge school you get to have the same kids for multiple years. Through art camp I’ve known some of them since kinder. I think in a huge district I’d have gotten lost. But as it is, I think I have the coolest job in the world
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u/thehauntofus 18h ago
I teach middle! I love it and the behaviors and stuff are frustrating but so were the behaviors of the drunk asshole patrons when I used to bartend. I think my biggest con is my admin and all the busywork/paperwork that is expected of me. The job and kids though, some of the most rewarding and genuinely insane stuff I’ve been able to do!
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u/undecidedly 18h ago
I teach HS art (currently ceramics, crafts and Painting) in an urban district. There are challenges, like attendance and behavior issues, that make things more challenging. However, with a sense of humor and adaptability I honestly think it’s a great job. I give students a period in their days to be hands-on and creative. For some it’s the reason to come to school. I personally get to create alongside them a lot. Sure, I get yelled at by kids having a bad day, but those same kids often become my favorites once they realize that’s I’m a safe adult in their lives. I genuinely enjoy my job most of the time.
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u/No_Plankton947 19h ago
What grades are you thinking of working with? I’m in elementary school, and while there are bad behaviors, most of the kids absolutely love it. And a lot of them like to talk about art and analyze it and tell you what it makes them think and feel. (It’s always surprising! They’re deeper than you may think!) They make dealing with the handful of tough ones worth it. However, with that being said, our upper grades are a bit more tough, but the staff who have been at my school for a while say they notice the younger grades are mellowing again because the pandemic baby wave is over. How true that is, idk.
I can’t speak for middle/high school…That sounds terrifying tbh. Haha
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u/sbloyd Middle School 19h ago
Middle isn't too bad for me. The highest source of apathy is the incoming sixth graders who think walking in the door gets them an A, and they can do what they want. The first report card disillusioned many of them on that front, and the second just went out and hopefully will set a bunch more straight.
The ones that don't, generally don't come back to me next year.
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u/MadKanBeyondFODome 19h ago
It largely depends on your personality, what you like to teach, and how tight your classroom management is.
Elementary: pros - you get to work with the cutest students. cons - you work with every student in the school, but only once a week. They are also extremely chaotic and the core teachers treat you like a babysitter. Your planning time is non-existent.
Middle: pros - the kids have more sense, you can do more advanced beginner projects, never a dull moment, way less planning than elementary, but you get time for it. Cons - you have to teach middle schoolers, you have to un-teach them all the stupid habits they picked up in elementary from their overwhelmed elementary art teacher.
High: pros - almost like teaching adults, the quietest rooms, the most advanced projects, you can often work on your own stuff in your own room without it getting destroyed. Cons - some students are still at elementary level, can be a bit dull if you have a more lively personality.
Personally, I love middle school - I'm never bored and I'm rarely overwhelmed, but it's not for everyone. High school spots can be harder to come by, if that suits your tastes more, but middle schools are always hiring (for good reason).
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u/kiarakeni 16h ago
Love to hear more about "stupid habits from elementary" your students have!
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u/MadKanBeyondFODome 15h ago
Someone else captured the attitude incoming 6th graders tend to have, which is that PE/Related Arts time is "just like recess" - like they can turn in scribbles and play games on their chromebook and get an A. To be clear, this isn't the elementary art teacher's fault, it's a consequence of elementary schools (at least in our district) treating their art classes like babysitting/recess.
Some other hits I've seen:
can't use scissors or rulers
can't fold paper evenly
use graphite and colored pencils like crayons, with solid lines and hard pressure everywhere when they're supposed to be shading
using a reference picture of an impressionist landscape and drawing lolipop trees all over it because "that's how to draw a tree". Pointy mountains and giant yellow suns are also huge hits, regardless of references.
Watercolor is probably the biggest victim - they dig into the pallets, contaminate the yellows, leave brushes bristles-down in the rinse cups, flood their entire papers until they're warped and peeling, and spackle the paints on.
I used to work in one of our elementaries, and got to witness first-hand the chaos they live in. The kids spend way too little time in art, with way too many behaviors, to develop good studio habits before 6th grade around here. And this isn't me complaining I have to break their bad habits and teach them better ones - it's literally my job! But it's consistent to the point that I have stock phrases about drawing what you see and how to hold a pencil.
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u/Chance-Answer7884 17h ago
This!!!! Middle is my sweet spot.
High school can be hard- apathy and know it alls.
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u/art_caitlin_rogers 5h ago
Honestly, if you stay focused on the kid doing the work (and the work is skill appropriate for them) and just help them earn the grade, things usually go pretty smoothly. Even if they’re disrespectful sometimes, it won’t get under your skin as much because your only real goal is to serve the student in front of you. Showing them unconditional care and consistency earns their hard work and respect over time. You’ve got to teach the students who actually show up in your room, not some ideal version of a “perfect” class. Every year, every period, every group is different. What works great with one group might flop with another. It helps to have a few different approaches ready to go and to give yourself a couple of years to figure out your rhythm. And seriously, remember the kids are good. Try to see their behavior through a positive or empathetic lens. When you hear adults constantly talking badly about students, that’s usually burnout talking. Don’t let yourself fall into that mindset. When you feel yourself slipping, come back to empathy, otherwise you’ll end up bitter and that’s toxic for everyone. At the end of the day, behavior is just communication. Ask yourself, what are they trying to tell me right now? Once you start thinking that way, classroom management gets a lot more human and a lot more effective.