Mask Making is Tough Fun

Mask work in the classroom is not lollipop time. The Arts Team at Maskworx recommend that mask making sessions are not scheduled for last thing on Friday "when you can't get anything out of them [students] anyway". Mask work is "tough fun" - and it's been said that the best learning happens during "tough fun" - it requires certain Creative Behaviours and extreme concentration:

During mask making teachers should look for these creative behaviours; original and imaginative ideas, clever construction and technically savvy extensions, novel uses for materials found in the immediate vicinity, commitment and courage (sticking with it when the project doesn't work), seeing where the 'happy accidents' take them, stretching the boundaries of the brief (within limits), and articulate symbolic language (speaking in pictures).

We recommend teachers notice and celebrate the student's creative behaviours along the journey of mask making rather than give awards for outcomes.

Awards for Good Mask Work?

There's always the temptation in a competitive culture such as ours to give out awards for students good work. Sounds reasonable enough, but is it a good idea to appraise children's maskworks from the classroom with an adult eye? Recently a nearby country school made masks to celebrate midwinter. Many of the students were juniors. The organiser of the mask project put aside ten small trinklets as prizes. One of the parent-helpers then selected ten favourite masks by popping a red dot on the noses of the masks thought to be the best. "It was a mistake" the organiser later told us..."we then had lots of crying children".

Children aren't seeing the same thing as grownups do. To them it's not a piece of moulded cardboard with glitter on it; they're seeing a star cluster or a winter queen!! The (artistic) child sees with his/her whole mind, whilst most adults have forgotten about the wonky eye view of childhood and can only see surface details. If the child has been allowed to make the mask all by themselves, they will simply adore their own creation. They will believe their character is really real and not to receive an award can be heartbreaking. [For a happy solution see above post]