Anime and Art

Anime is basically Japanese cartoons. You don't think your art teacher would allow you to draw American cartoons, right?

Ahem.

 Spoiler

@OP, art is a form of expression of your individuality. Medium and subject matter is irrelevant when you want to do art as long as your art is unique to you. Consider people like Salvador Dali, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol where their art take a drastic step away from the norm yet still, they are remembered in history for their art. That said, I don't know why your teachers would discourage any form of self expression, particularly anime.

However, anime in western society tends to separate the culture to the two extremes with no or little middle ground. People either hate it or enjoy it. A part of it has to do with Western society still not being very accepting of Japanese culture (and vice versa). This includes things like anime, JRPGs, cars, etc. There are plenty of westerners who refuse to play JRPGs even if they're a hardcore gamer and there are grease monkeys who refuse to drive a Japanese car. Anime is more personal though so whether one hates or loves it all depends on one's experience with it. Unfortunately for department, the fanbase do tend to be annoying which doesn't help its cause.