I’m not fond of elementary school teachers who don’t let little kids use their imaginations. If the assignment was to draw something specific that’s one thing, but based on her feedback that doesn’t seem like the case.
I think this is such a creative idea! – the juxtapositioning of the prehistoric vs the futuristic. As a former teacher, I would give this drawing an A+.
Okay, I’m in Calvins corner on this. Who friggin expects “serious” art from a little kid? Just give them a crayon and some paper and let them make pretty colors. If they learn to keep it on the paper great, if not, well that’s okay too. Life is lived in many colors and most of them aren’t always serious.
When my wife was in grade school, she was asked to write an essay on where she would travel and what she would like to see, if she could go anywhere she wanted. She said she would witness the building of the Taj Mahal. The teacher gave her an “F”, saying it was not possible. She countered, saying that possibility was not one of the criteria. The teacher refused to budge. When my wife’s dad heard about it, he went straight to the teacher and read her the riot act. The teacher changed the grade.
Personally, considering how young she was at the time, I thought her theme was quite imaginative.
When I was a kid in art class, I made a drawing similar to that. The art teacher held it up in front of the class and said, “Don’t ever use our materials for something like this!”. I was crushed.
My mother discouraged my youngest brother’s budding artistic skills when he drew his own cartoons based on “Pogo”. She told him it was plagiarism. As far as I know, he never drew again. So unthinkingly cruel.
Reminds me of my encounter in eighth grade with a teacher who had a limited intellect. The assignment was to provide a solution about how a country like China with an escalating population could control its growth.
My main solution which I offered as the best and most feasible one was that their autocratic government would have to declare a limitation on family size. Each household could have one or with a possible exception two children.
It was returned to me with a low grade. She actually took the time to write about the impossibility of the answer and what I did not understand about family, marriage and biology (probably because it was a time that teachers had to be careful using words like sex or sexual drive).
Years later when China mandated a one child policy I Fantasized about tracking her down and calling her to tell her what she could do with her grade book. I relented because she contributed to other fantasies that 13 year olds might have.
She was one of those unmarried young teachers who liked to wear a light weight dress or skirt with a chiffon type of material. It was obvious that she did not wear a slip. She would usually position herself during a lecture in front of the large window or a backlight. Always wondered if it was intentional or not. The girls never said anything to any of the guys I knew but the 13 year old guys had some comments for each other about it.
This reminds me of a recent child thinking that he can alter the path of a hurricane with a sharpie on a map. No one takes him seriously either, especially other nations.
BE THIS GUY over 3 years ago
Exactly what did Mrs. Wormwood expect from a 6 year old boy?
Sugar Bombs 95 over 3 years ago
Miss Wormwood: Have fun and be creative!
Calvin: has fun and is creative with his art
Miss Wormwood: Wait, that’s illegal.
Guilty Bystander over 3 years ago
Got to admit the blending of the prehistoric with the futuristic was pretty visionary. Should be worth SOMETHING.
codycab over 3 years ago
Wow! Can’t even pass a drawing assignment.
sirbadger over 3 years ago
It left Earth 75 million years before the asteroid hit so its descendants should still be alive.
Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus Premium Member over 3 years ago
Without doubt it is more understandable than a lot of contemporary art.
californiamonty over 3 years ago
Mrs. Wormwood obviously never saw The Last Starfighter or even the original series of Star Trek. Nothing wrong with having a reptilian spacefarer.
The Reader Premium Member over 3 years ago
It’s the earliest known drawing of Stegosaurus Rocket Man!
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 3 years ago
And what, exactly, is not serious about a stegosaurus in a rocket ship?!
Kind&Kinder over 3 years ago
Hey, my kid coulda drawed that!
jpayne4040 over 3 years ago
I’m not fond of elementary school teachers who don’t let little kids use their imaginations. If the assignment was to draw something specific that’s one thing, but based on her feedback that doesn’t seem like the case.
Mr_Cool over 3 years ago
I’m guessing it’s Spaceman Spiff’s much much older brother.
Jeff0811 over 3 years ago
Next time draw a heart attack. “There Ms. Wormwood, how’s that for serious.”
jagedlo over 3 years ago
Calvin, don’t worry….great art isn’t appreciated until years later!
jvo over 3 years ago
Calvin saves his SERIOUS art for his snowmen.
derdave969 over 3 years ago
I thought Calvin’s drawing was representational. Didn’t the aliens bring the dinosaurs here in space craft?
Dobby53 Premium Member over 3 years ago
And Calvin went on to write a Dr Who adventure. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaurs_on_a_Spaceship
dlkrueger33 over 3 years ago
I think this is such a creative idea! – the juxtapositioning of the prehistoric vs the futuristic. As a former teacher, I would give this drawing an A+.
proberts23 over 3 years ago
So that’s where Steven Moffat got the idea from…
tripwire45 over 3 years ago
I think it’s cool.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 3 years ago
Okay, I’m in Calvins corner on this. Who friggin expects “serious” art from a little kid? Just give them a crayon and some paper and let them make pretty colors. If they learn to keep it on the paper great, if not, well that’s okay too. Life is lived in many colors and most of them aren’t always serious.
Snolep over 3 years ago
For his next art project, he tapes a banana to a wall.
bbenoit over 3 years ago
“I am a figment of you’re imagination, so of course I understand it.”
fuzzbucket Premium Member over 3 years ago
Keep all the weird dreamers. They become our next great artists in every field.
cubswin2016 over 3 years ago
It could be that Calvin’s use of elements from different time frames confused Miss Wormwood.
Pohka over 3 years ago
Hmmm, I think we just learned that the family name is Washburne. Wouldn’t surprise me if the ship is named Serenity;-)
Teto85 Premium Member over 3 years ago
Paint what you know.
scotta775 over 3 years ago
It was probably supposed to be a math assignment.
Otis Rufus Driftwood over 3 years ago
Art is subjective, Calvin. Lighten up.
gantech over 3 years ago
When my wife was in grade school, she was asked to write an essay on where she would travel and what she would like to see, if she could go anywhere she wanted. She said she would witness the building of the Taj Mahal. The teacher gave her an “F”, saying it was not possible. She countered, saying that possibility was not one of the criteria. The teacher refused to budge. When my wife’s dad heard about it, he went straight to the teacher and read her the riot act. The teacher changed the grade.
Personally, considering how young she was at the time, I thought her theme was quite imaginative.
YippiKiAyMofo over 3 years ago
Sounds better than 99% of the …stuff… foistered on us all in the guise of “art.”
WCraft Premium Member over 3 years ago
Dang – I was close. I was going to guess a stegosaurus riding a missile…
Mr. Reader over 3 years ago
I mean come on, how can the mona lisa compare to this?
dougsathome over 3 years ago
When I was a kid in art class, I made a drawing similar to that. The art teacher held it up in front of the class and said, “Don’t ever use our materials for something like this!”. I was crushed.
hoffquotes2 over 3 years ago
Why did the assignment need to be serious? No wonder Calvin hates school, he has a teacher like Mrs Wormwood that crushes all creative expression
raybarb44 over 3 years ago
She was wrong. He drew what he saw in his mind’s eye…..
BiggerNate91 over 3 years ago
I know the reason why Miss Wormwood is so upset, but I’m going to wait for the strip that explains it.
Blaidd Drwg Premium Member over 3 years ago
‘Dinosaurs on a Spaceship’, ridiculous. Or is it?? “Rory’s Dad will save us.”
Thinkingblade over 3 years ago
I think we are only getting part of the story – the assignment was probably, “please draw your family”. :-)
Sir.waffle over 3 years ago
calvin i think she means something else….
willie_mctell over 3 years ago
Art has to be serious?
Calvins Brother over 3 years ago
If you close one eye and look just right…….
ThomasPurcell over 3 years ago
Mrs. Wormwood now works for Twitter.
mfrasca over 3 years ago
Mr. Kelly sez you have to think like a dinosaur.
DCBakerEsq over 3 years ago
Van Gogh is rolling over in his grave. With his one ear.
mistercatworks over 3 years ago
My mother discouraged my youngest brother’s budding artistic skills when he drew his own cartoons based on “Pogo”. She told him it was plagiarism. As far as I know, he never drew again. So unthinkingly cruel.
txmystic over 3 years ago
“Not Serious” is a completely invalid criticism for a work of art…
admiree2 over 3 years ago
Reminds me of my encounter in eighth grade with a teacher who had a limited intellect. The assignment was to provide a solution about how a country like China with an escalating population could control its growth.
My main solution which I offered as the best and most feasible one was that their autocratic government would have to declare a limitation on family size. Each household could have one or with a possible exception two children.
It was returned to me with a low grade. She actually took the time to write about the impossibility of the answer and what I did not understand about family, marriage and biology (probably because it was a time that teachers had to be careful using words like sex or sexual drive).
Years later when China mandated a one child policy I Fantasized about tracking her down and calling her to tell her what she could do with her grade book. I relented because she contributed to other fantasies that 13 year olds might have.
She was one of those unmarried young teachers who liked to wear a light weight dress or skirt with a chiffon type of material. It was obvious that she did not wear a slip. She would usually position herself during a lecture in front of the large window or a backlight. Always wondered if it was intentional or not. The girls never said anything to any of the guys I knew but the 13 year old guys had some comments for each other about it.
SweetSinger over 3 years ago
You just KNOW that this very thing happened to Mr. Watterson in first grade! The world is glad you disputed the opinion, sir.
A Hip loving Canadian... over 3 years ago
Hmmm, I wonder if Mom will put in on the fridge.
yangeldf over 3 years ago
I can’t really judge this without knowing what the subject of the assignment was meant to be
swanridge over 3 years ago
This reminds me of a recent child thinking that he can alter the path of a hurricane with a sharpie on a map. No one takes him seriously either, especially other nations.
rentier over 3 years ago
Hobbes can see good with the heart!!
Number Three over 3 years ago
What was Calvin supposed to be drawing in the first place?
His imagination just shines through. Miss Wormwood should be pleased.
xxx
Mediatech over 3 years ago
That’s no good at all, his tail spikes would poke holes in his space suit.
dwane.scoty1 over 3 years ago
“Wormwood was right! You forgot Steggy’s goggles!”
hagarthehorrible over 3 years ago
Pity Geniuses are mostly not recognised by the school teachers.
lindz.coop Premium Member over 3 years ago
Seems like that kind of drawing could be quite serious to a little boy.
TheGuyWhoPlayz0_0 over 3 years ago
You wouldn’t even know what my art is
Bring da bling over 2 years ago
Is this a rerun?
...... 29 days ago
Calvin’s just so good at art no one else can understand him