Art class in need of supplies

Fifty dollars is a lot of money, but not when you’re dealing with art supplies for 37 art students in one class and 49 art students in another class. Fifty dollars doesn’t go far.

Robin Nelson, art teacher at Manning High School for the past five years, is struggling this year to have enough supplies for all of her students.

“I usually purchase art supplies for the second half of the year in November,” Nelson said Jan. 20. “This year when I asked about money for the supplies I was told there wasn’t any.”

Nelson said MHS Principal Preston Threatt was actively looking into grant and funding possibilities to help with the problem.

At the beginning of the year, Nelson said she was given $250 for supplies.

“I purchased glue, scissors, color pens, pencils, everything I needed for the first semester,” she said. “We used up all of those supplies the first half of the year. Now I need more supplies for a new group of first year art students in the second half of the year.”

The situation has gotten so dire in Nelson’s classes that the students are using the straight edges of poster board as rulers and yardsticks.

“Students will lose them. They’ll break. It happens. We need replacements,” she added. “Pencils … we seem to go through those in no time at all.”

With some of her upper level students working in watercolors, acrylics and oils, it gets expensive fast.

“One tube of the really good oil paint costs more than $10,” she said. “We have some really talented students and I want them to be able to have the supplies that they need in class to progress.”

While gift cards to Wal-Mart, Staples or any other store that carries art supplies would help, Nelson said she’d appreciate used pencils, markers, paints and color pencils.

“Even if it’s a used tube of paint, we’d love to have it,” she said. “Rulers and yardsticks that people aren’t using, we’d love to have them. We won’t turn anything down when it comes to art supplies. We need them.”

Art is a way for students to express themselves,” Nelson added.

“Art allows students the venue for letting everything out,” she said. “They can express their feelings. The beauty of it all is that students will be able to see things in their art that they never thought they’d see.”

Art enables students to develop socially and academically.

“Art crosses all boundaries whether it’s race, economics, opinions,” Nelson said. “Art allows students to develop their cognitive skills and be creative. Art encourages them to think out of the box. All those skills will help them when they move on to college or life experiences.”

Anyone wanting help Nelson by donating supplies or gift cards can drop them off at Manning High School, 2155 Paxville Road, Manning.

“We’ll make do with any donations,” Nelson said. “I believe from my heart that the arts increase a students learning potential, complements learning in other disciplines and establishes a foundation for success in school and lifelong learning.”

Individuals can also make donations to Nelson’s art class at www.adoptaclassroom.org

For more information on how you can help, email Nelson at rnelson@clarendon2.k12.sc.us.