James and the Giant Peach

Some of the misconceptions I had before beginning to work with children included the view that they were simple minded and innocent. As I began to work with children these misconceptions were immediately erased. It is easy to see when children are given the right environment to thrive that they are very complex and capable of complex activities and that their experiences in life are often more complicated and diverse than we may imagine. In the context of art education and the role of the teacher it means that we need to consider that our students may be capable of more than we give them credit for. There must be careful consideration of the student's developmental skills before planning any project. This will make sure that the projects will be meaningful and enriching to the child's experience in art education.

The movie "James and the Giant Peach" shows insight into the child's mind and the limits of their imagination. Through this movie I learned that children often twist events into stories that they can comprehend, as in the case with James and the passing of his parents. I also learned that when children come into the class room they are often entering an environment in which they are not the center of attention any more. This is important to consider when teaching younger children, as they will be adapting to these new circumstances. Another important message in the movie was that friendship is central to a child's sense of confidence and self image. Establishing community within the class room is a key to allowing children to thrive. Another key idea in the film was that children should never be underestimated and they should be given individual opportunities to be independent, thrive and find their own triumphs. Finally, the message about how important family is in a child's learning was evident in the film. James' peach family was drastically different from his biological family. His biological family, his aunts, were portrayed as narcissistic and did not give James opportunities to be a child. His peach family allowed him to be a child, make friends and accomplish goals on his own. The peach family was his support and his aunts were just his relation. This shows us how vital the role of family is in our class room. Team work and encouragement are the tools that will support a positive learning experience. Family should encourage the child's talents and engage with them to create confidence in the learner.