Naked People

PETE PANSE is a talented and popular high school art teacher in Middletown, NY who uses traditional techniques to to train his students. In December 2005 Mr. Panse was suspended from his job for recommending that some of his advanced students consider taking figure drawing courses that included nude figure drawings.

-Art Renewal Center

Wow. That's ridiculous. You can grab more information at this link. Drawing your first naked person is one of those magical moments in the life of an artist. It's like getting a driver's license, buying a house, or eating a sirloin steak. Why, I remember my first drawing of a naked person. What an unforgettable day it was when Jerry let go of his towel and let it tumble to the platform. That was fun.

My special moment aside, I'm gonna say that the art teacher is in no place to get suspended. If he asked one of his students to undress and model nude for the class, then I could see him facing some pretty harsh punishment. But he was just trying to help his students mature as artists.

Take this little bit of information with it, too:

...the ninth grade art history survey course includes dozens of images of nudes. Mr. Panse's students had completed that unit previously, and are now upperclassmen.

Where was the school board and upset parents during this course? Well, take from it what you will, but I'm gonna guess that this New York high school is a little on the looney side.