CONCEPTed is an online magazine about art education in the world today. The magazine is the brain-child of Graphic Design and Art Education student, Meghann Harris, who studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), in Baltimore. Meghann, as an undergraduate student, was inspired by the push for new and exciting things in the field of Graphic Design through online magazines and publications such as GOOD and Design Observer, and wanted to instill the same sort of invigoration and passion into the art education community. Thus, CONCEPTed was born. The mission of the magazine is to be a free, online source to art educators and educators in other fields, act as a trendy and innovative source for new ideas, and keep art educators current with happenings in the art world and the issues that effect their students. The magazine also seeks to look to show examples of teachers who are doing provocative and exciting things in the classroom, to provide art educators with resources and lesson plans, and to bring awareness of arts education to administrators, parents, and teachers in other subjects.
CONCEPTed focuses on what issues students are facing in schools across the country and what art education can do to help. This first issue of the magazine focuses on bullying, which has been a big focus in the media, especially with anti-bullying laws popping up in states like New Jersey and Missouri, and the gay teen suicides that are increasing throughout the nation. Bullying is the problem of every person in and around the school, not just the students. It is the job of teachers and administrators to come up with creative lessons and solutions to better the school environment, of parents to keep up with their kids and their friends, and of community leaders to provide a positive example for students. There is a lot we can do to prevent bullying. Small steps in community building and getting to know our students can make all the difference.
