The quality of art teachers working in high schools to develop the cretivity of their students

One of the basic elements of educational system is teacher. Art teachers have great importance role in terms of improving students' creative qualities. In this study, "the quality of art teachers working in high schools to develop the creativity of their students" has been researched. The descriptive research model was used in the study. The data gathered with an attitude scale from 395 art teachers, 301 principals and 1022 students of 14 cities from 7 different geographical region of Turkey were analysed by using SPSS for Windows 9.05 programme package. The results revealed that art teachers working in private high schools had more creative qualities than those working in state high schools. Female principals found art teachers more creative than male principals. All the principals and students agreed that art teachers in Mediterranean Region were more creative. In some comparisons made on personal characteristics significant differences were found at the level of 0.05. It was also found that art teachers had creative qualifications. All the subjects thought that teaching methods of art teachers could develop students' creativity. It was determined that classroom management of art teachers could not develop students' creativity. All the subjects agreed that general aims of art courses at high schools aimed at developing students' creativity. It was suggested that art teachers should have courses on creativity both in pre-service and in-service education. Key Words: Art, art education, creativity, art teacher, art programme, high school.