Pun-dering Teachers, Good and Bad.

Miriam Cohen's book, No Good in Art, celebrates good teachers. But it opens with a discouraging one, Jim's kindergarten art teacher, who was quick to criticize. Without her help Jim may never have known that his grass was too thick or that his people had no necks. By drawing her own images on Jim's paper our instructor instantly taught Jim that he was "no good in art." In contrast, the encourager who taught Jim's first grade class helped convince him that he might indeed, become an artist.

The system is filled with both kinds.

First graders aren't expected to have the maturity to handle authorities who squelch. But adults don't seem to be any better at handling such mistreatment.