By: Emily Cline

Being an art teacher was never the plan for James Lanier. In fact, he probably would’ve been happier doing something else. Despite this, Lanier has been in art education for 35 years. He now teaches at Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon, where he is one of two full-time art teachers.

Lanier says that art education was like a family business that he fell into. Growing up, he was raised by art teachers. As a teenager, he rebelled against the fine arts and instead was more into cars and motorcycles; it’s because of those shop classes that he stayed in school.

After graduating and accepting his father’s pleas, Lanier went back to college and got a fine arts degree and later his teaching license.

Growing up in Eugene, Lanier has seen the cuts to the arts first hand. It went from having “rich choices” to no art teachers in elementary and very few in middle school. High schools still have art classes because of state regulations for fine arts, which he is thankful for.

He thinks these changes are partially due to state requirements for graduation. With more academics comes less time for electives, which means electives are first to go. Another piece is that people simply see art as less important than other subjects.

Lanier believes that for art not to be important “is kind of silly,” even ridiculous. “Arts are kind of important… not because they make us better at other subjects, but as a subject itself… It’s what beautifies and enriches our lives.” It’s something he can’t go a day without doing, and he thinks it’s frightening that his classes are the only hands on things in the school. It’s “take art or take nothing”.

There was a time he needed a new kiln for his classes. They had two, but one was old and worn like much of the stuff in his room. It was expected that he find a way to get it. Only after getting half of the money from the booster club did the school pitch in. He makes a point that something like that would never happen for science or football with their “fancy uniforms”. But he says that art kids are “just a different kind of kid, and there’s not a lot of advocacy for them”.

Carly Bodnar, a former student, is now living in New York pursuing art. Though Lanier doesn’t take credit for teaching her, she has very fond memories of him.

“It definitely mattered to me that I had two teachers that were supportive, and it felt realistic in a sense… It’s really hard without those role models.”

With four years until retirement, Lanier plans to use that time to speak up for future students and teachers. Being an art teacher, he says he’s been trained to not complain too much for fear of losing his job, but it’s become hard to care about that. It’s been a tough 35 years for James Lanier, but with retirement comes more time for him to focus on his love of motorcycles and cars. Until then, he believes the time has come for him to be an advocate.

“I think it’s time for me to start advocating for some changes so the younger people that replace me benefit from my feeling secure about asking for things.”