David R. Vallejo 's comment on Fish Stew and the Self-Taught Artist

I see your point. In practical application, artists are self-taught. However, in acquiring the "tools of the trade", we all learn from those who have already traveled the path.
For example, the worst painting teacher I had was one who had the philosophy that we all paint the way we paint, and so he simply gave assignments that his student had to figure out how to complete. Though I agree that there are ways of approaching art that are unique to every individual, I personally would have benefited more from his class if he had taught me some painting fundamentals so that I could have become a more proficient painter in a shorter amount of time.
Furthermore, I think there is a misunderstanding that both teachers and students often have about art education. Often times perimeters are set within the context of a class so that certain skills are developed, such as observation, hand-eye coordination, etc. However, these perimeters should never be seen as one way or the only way of creating art, which is often where both students and instructors have hang-ups.