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Philly teacher digs into own pocket to bring in art

For her 50th birthday party last fall, Patty Smith decided not to ask for presents for herself. Instead, the 14-year veteran of the Philadelphia School District asked for a gift for her third graders at Anderson Elementary School.

Teacher Patty Smith paid to bring a ceramics program to Anderson Elementary, which has no art teacher. Pupils include (from left) Tatiyana Parks, Siyani Taylor, and Simaya Williams.
Teacher Patty Smith paid to bring a ceramics program to Anderson Elementary, which has no art teacher. Pupils include (from left) Tatiyana Parks, Siyani Taylor, and Simaya Williams.Read moreTOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer

For her 50th birthday party last fall, Patty Smith decided not to ask for presents for herself.

Instead, the 14-year veteran of the Philadelphia School District asked for a gift for her third graders at Anderson Elementary School.

Anderson, in West Philadelphia, has no art teacher; the position has sat vacant all school year. So Smith asked friends and family to donate money to bring the Claymobile - a traveling ceramic arts program - to her classroom.

On Thursday night, Smith's students exhibited their work and got a chance to see their creations for the first time after they had been fired in the kiln.

"It was fun and exciting," said Siyani Taylor, 8, showing off a clay pterodactyl, an island with a volcano on it, and a carefully molded cup.

Her father, Brady Taylor, smiled behind her.

"It's good to see her imagination come to life - her creativity! It's nice to see it manifested into something you can see and touch," he said. "And it's very needed."

The Claymobile sent artists to 22 public schools this year and is aimed at helping students who have less access to art classes, said Mia DeCrecenzo, the program's outreach and community engagement coordinator.

"It's such a valuable experience. I come across articles that have tied art education to brain development, and I think this is really an important part of the kids' education," Smith said.

She uses the project to teach lessons across the curriculum - for example, asking her students to practice explanatory writing by detailing how to make a cup, or sculpt a fossil, or make a volcano that works (with baking soda and vinegar).

Smith is used to crowdsourcing classroom amenities. She collects used furniture for a classroom book nook and office supplies from her neighbors in Lower Merion, and is known at Anderson for her collection of children's books, many of which she bought herself. Her solicitation for her 50th birthday brought in $2,000.

The Claymobile has visited her classroom about five times in the last several years, funded entirely by Smith and her friends.

"This is a really formative experience for them," Smith said. Former students often tell her they still treasure their "clay projects."

On Thursday, students and parents clustered around their projects in Anderson's library.

Matutina McGriff had come in scrubs, straight from her job at a nursing home, to see her daughter Tatiyana Parks' work.

"It's a beautiful thing," she said. "I don't remember being 9 and learning this."

Principal Lauren Tolson, who is finishing her first year at Anderson, looked on proudly.

On one table sat rows and rows of clay placards displaying the school's classroom numbers.

Next year, Tolson will hang the placards outside each classroom - "a permanent installation," she said, smiling. "I think the students feel like they were a part of something bigger."

Thursday, Tolson said, was one of those days that makes her job "worth it."

There was beautiful art on display. She was surrounded by proud parents and excited students.

And, just hours before, after an entire year without art classes, she had finally been able to interview a new art teacher.

awhelan@philly.com

215-854-2961@aubreyjwhelan