Arts and Humanities

Paul Werner

Faculty, Programs in the Arts

"My students are not interested in ‘banking’ knowledge... they’re interested in better sharing their love of art."

Many years ago I found myself in the classroom teaching an art history course and projecting slides, when it suddenly hit me: this is New York! We have some of the greatest museums and galleries in the world! What are we doing here? After that, I looked to schedule all my classes in the museum, where the art is. I’ve never looked back.

There’s a term used by the great Brazilian teacher Paulo Freire known as "banking". My students are not interested in "banking" knowledge—no grades, no report cards, no certificates. They’re interested in thinking about art, and in better sharing their love of art, which happens to be what I’m interested in as well.