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Show New School Art Program AddsDepth, 4 Variety to Students9 Understanding A new art program has been added to Garfield County School District schedule according to Kerry Nelson, superintendent of the district. The program is funded by a special educational grant from the Utah State Education Board and will continue for the next three years. Michael James Clark, a native of Cannonvllle is instructor for the new program and teaches in the three high schools, Pangultch, Escalante and Bryce Valley and also works with the teachers in the four elementary schools. Pangultch, Escalante, Bryce Valley and Antimony. After graduating from Bryce Valley High School, Mr. Clark served in the armed forces. Between World War II and the Korean War he attended photographic school. During the Korean war he worked in public relations as a photographer. After the war he went to South Africa on an LDS mission. Upon his return from the mission he entered Dixie College with the intention of teaching history and political science. Ralph Huntsman at the college helped him become interested in art. He then attended the Utah State University, majoring in art and minoring in history and political science. Eighteen years ago he began teaching at the Virgin Valley High School in Mesquite, Nev. where he has taught ever since until coming here. During that period he worked with the Western States Small schools program and through them developed and taught the art by telephone class, which was funded by the Ford Foundation. This program consisted of a film made by Mr. dark on art, shown on a overhead projector, and by using the telephone. He taught this class during his noon hour so as not to interfere with the full schedule he carried at Mesquite. Besides two schools in each of the following three states, Oregon, Idaho and Utah and five schools in Nevada, he also had a group of students in his own class room. Bryce Valley High School, was one of the schools to participate in this program and Mrs. Ella Adair, oversee rer at the Bryce Valley School feels the students learned a great deal through this course. Clark has also taught off-campus courses at the University of Nevada at Las vegas for 14 years and two years at the Mohave Community College in Kingman, Ariz. He worked 10 years as seasonal ranger in Zions and has run the Colorado river many times for the "excitement, of it." He turned down a teaching Job at Dixie College to come to this district and "back home." ( Besides teaching in the high schools and working with the elementary teachers his plans in Garfield County are to bold adult classes In Pangultch, Escalante and Tropic. In the spring his plans are to bring all the classes together in a fine arts festival where his students (Continued on Page S) Art Program (Continued from Page One) can display their works of art and also professional people will be given an opportunity to demonstrate their talents, combined with drama, dancing, music and art. Oil, water color, ceramics, photography and pottery are among the many talents demonstrated by Mr. Clark. He has also made educational films, one film resulted because of his research for his masters degree in fine arts where he researched the clay In different parts of Southern Utah. He has used Southern Utah and Eastern Nevada clay mixed with other clay In his school teaching for years. The film he made was a 32 minute sound and color educational film entitled "World of day." Clark married the former Erma By bee. Tropic. They have eight children. "My great love is to teach kids and help them to open their eyes and see the world more fully and help them to learn to appreciate the world around them," Clark stated, "Especially here In the heart of the canyons, Lake Powell and beautiful scenery where we have nature at its finest" He stated this new program would be very challenging and he is "going to love it!" |