A case study of two art teachers : father and daughter

Abstract

My research deals with changes in teaching methodologies and understandings of Art, focusing on two individuals who represent two different generations. I am going to do so with the help of my ex-Art teacher Mr. Alfred Portelli, who used to teach Art at Carlo Diacono Zejtun (now retired) and his daughter Ms. Claire Scicluna, who is currently also an Art teacher at Carlo Diacono, now known as St. Thomas More College. Regular and systematic in-depth interviews will help me understand the character of parental influences in relation to Art. I will also study Alfred and Claire's experiences as student-teachers of Art, their early artistic and educational development, and about their careers as Art teachers. How has learning about teaching Art changed from one generation to the other? What can we learn from a previous generation? Have new philosophies been adapted to the teaching of Art? I would like to conduct this study because I find this case unique since Alfred and Claire have the same profession; they relate to the same school environment and have a family connection. I have chosen to investigate this case even because one can learn through other people's experiences and philosophies and it will be inspiring for my life and prospective profession as an Art teacher.