Smart Art
(An analysis of the importance of art in education)
The arts are incredible teaching and learning devices that can benefit both student and teacher. This simple statement has been questioned recently as arts in education have been increasingly diminished. Theresa Sjoquist, a distinguished author and biographer, explains how modern schools treat the arts,
“Today they are teaching the subject of art as a frill in school, partly due to intellectual preciousness that has crept into art departments with the making of the History of Art. Intellectualising places art on a pedestal only for the few.” (Sjoquist)
Just as Sjoquist explains, the arts are now looked at as something only certain people can do. Different studies and personal statements have begun to explain that the arts are a crucial part of the learning process. Those who are involved in arts would agree that it has helped with their education. Of course, there is always the fact that there are some very intelligent people who are not involved in the
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Linking to the idea that some people have an intelligence in the arts and music is that in order for all children to be able to truly learn and reach their highest achievement ability, the arts must at least be offered. Mitzi Myers, a professor at the University of California and children’s book writer, explains, “What better encouragement to women systematically inhibited by their culture than verifying women 's capabilities, achievements, and virtues?” (Myers, Pg. 3) Though Myers explains this for women, it can be applied to all students. Students can’t be expected to do their best unless they are allowed to use their capabilities to be the best that they can be. Art classes have to be offered because some students have incredible capabilities through the art and will only achieve and do their best if they are able to be in these
Rhys Southan’s essay “Is Art a Waste of Time?” is about art and if it can really help people who are suffering or is it just better to hand over your money. In Yo-Yo Ma’s essay “necessary Edges: Arts, Empathy, and Education” he focuses more on art being used as educational purposes to essentially create more innovative/empathetic people. Instead of focusing so much on STEM, the author states that we should incorporate art too. Although some people might say art does not play a role in making the world a better place. I believe it can by bringing awareness to different social issues. Also, if we incorporate art at a young age it can teach kids to be open minded and happier people.
Holcomb, Sabrina. "Arts Education." Rss. National Education Association, 17 Jan. 2007. Web. 10 May 2016.
One thing that many people do not appreciate is how beneficial fine arts can be to academic success. All fine arts ...
A recent development in public education has been the decline in arts programs nationwide. Budget cuts to arts programs are responsive to decreases in state funding, especially in states with conservative economic policies. Many states have also enacted legislation disabling local school districts’ abilities to justify employing art and music teachers. Consequently, several problems have manifested themselves, including the loss of arts programs proving detrimental to the overall quality of education for today’s children. First and foremost, arts programs improve overall performance in core school subjects; this is demonstrated clearly through higher test scores amongst students with exposure to arts and positive correlations between arts and core class engagement. Other reasons supporting retaining arts programs include to help foster community development, produce creative minds, develop problem-solving skills, aid in child development and visual-spatial skills, and encourage underprivileged students to remain in school (Metla, 2015). By removing arts programs from some public schools, an alarming issue of public concern arises. Public education, given that it is considered to be a non-rivalrous and non-excludable, is deemed a public good (Clark, 2016). Cutting arts programs in public schools, especially when cuts transpire in schools saturated with heavy minority populations, creates inequitable education and creates a serious issue of public concern.
Efland, A. (1990). A history of art education: Intellectual and social currents in teaching the
“Recent studies show that being involved in music classes makes it easier to learn other subjects and improve skills in other classrooms” (Brown, “The Benefits of Music Education”). A lot of people tend to overlook how much music education has an impact on the success of a student. Because of this, schools should be required to offer fine arts and music classes as electives for the students. Not only will this improve the students test scores, but it will also give the students a broader imagination and more creativity in and out of the classroom. In a lot of schools, fine arts and musical classes are the first to go when there are budget cuts. “Seventy-one percent of the nation’s fifteen thousand school districts have cut instructional hours spent on music and other subjects” (“State of the arts: should music and art classes be brushed aside”). Not only is it affecting the teachers who have specialized in the study of fine arts, it is affecting all of the students and parents who are actively involved in these programs. “Johnson, professor of music education and music therapy and associate dean of the School of Fine Arts at KU, found jumps of twenty-two percent in English test scores and twenty percent in math scores at elementary schools with superior music education” (Lynch “Music Boosts Test Scores”). With that being said, schools should be required to offer music and fine arts classes as an elective for their students.
Much too often in America today, modern music and art programs in schools are perceived to many as extracurricular activities rather than important subjects that are vital to a students learning and skill development. The truth of the matter is that encouraging music and art education in public schools has a much larger impact on student’s grades, academic performance, and the economy than the majority people realize. Within the next year city school budgets will be dropping by twenty five percent, and despite the fact that music and art programs have been showing a dramatic contribution to student’s learning, this substantial drop in funding for the programs will lead to no dedicated money for art or music programs (Mezzacappa). There is no doubt that a cut in funding for art programs will take a huge toll on students overall grades and test scores. Research has found that the studying of music and art facilitates learning in other subjects and enhances children’s skills in other areas (Brown). Furthermore, providing students with a creative outlet can do great justice in reducing the stress from many other classes and even offer insight for students in possible career paths involving the art field. The art industry today currently supports 4.1 million full-time jobs (Dorfman). By increasing the funding of music and art programs for students preschool through twelfth grade we can see a dramatic increase in the education of children across the United States, assist with skill development in young students, and greatly benefit the economy at the same time.
“Every student in the nation should have an education in the arts.” This is the opening statement of “The Value and Quality of Arts Education: A Statement of Principles,” a document from the nation’s ten most important educational organizations. The basic message is that music and art programs in the schools help our kids and communities in real and substantial ways. There is an abundant amount of facts and information that supports this statement. The benefits of arts education can be narrowed down into 4 basic categories: success in developing intelligence, success in ...
Art can be used to raise scores in every subject, “Students who took four years of art classes scored 91 points higher on their SAT exams than those who took half a year or less. Multiple studies also confirmed that there is a correlation between art engagement and students’ other achievements.” (Valeriya Metla) Even with the research linking art and better grades some educators think that it is more worth while to only focus on the core classes because it is more important to fund what is being tested than to help raise children who are creative.
Art Education is not always valued in school settings. Although some may see it as an unnecessary use of school funding, there are many who believe it is beneficial to students in more ways than one. There are many different studies that have been conducted to test the effects that art education has on school-aged children. Some studies have proven that art education can help students to improve in other academic areas. In a journal article from Ohio State University’s “Theory in Practice,” Karen A Hamblen states, “There are linkages between art learning and learning in other subjects areas and that art study can promote creative behaviors, critical thinking skills, and academic achievement.” It has also been found that the arts can teach children better self-regulatory strategies, and even foster more confidence and self-efficacy in school which relates to confidence in academics. Overall, art education in schools has been very beneficial and has proven to ignite creativity, confidence, critical thinking skills, and academic achievement in students.
In today’s society anything can be considered “Art”. From the great sounds of a symphony, to the architecture of a modern structure, or even an elephant painting with its trunk, art is what the viewer perceives it to be. Individuals will always agree or disagree with the message behind a certain piece of art, as pieces can be offensive to some, but beautiful to others. Some argue that funding the arts in school is a waste of money, time, or a combination of both, but the benefits outweigh the negatives by far, due to a variety of reasons.
When I was in high school, I was very involved in the arts. I took a band, choir and two years of visual art. During the years of high school, I knew that the fees for the art courses cost much more than other electives at my school. I also observed that the school focused more on their athletic and academics programs, than on their art programs. We had many fundraisers to raise more money for the art programs even after paying an already expensive fee to takes these electives. Schools are neglecting the visual arts programs and placing all of their money and focus on academics and athletics programs. I propose a balance between the arts, academics, and the athletics.
We learn to follow the steps, use the formula, and get the right answer, but because of these classes, we forget about the arts. If the arts are forgotten, then the student’s way of expressing what they feel is taken away. Which brings more pressure to students in classes like math, physics, geography, etc. That is why schools should make arts classes mandatory because arts classes help students build their artistic and creative skills, make them better learners, and encourages them to find other ways of expressing their thoughts. The chair of the UK Government had a test made to see the ability to think in “divergent or non-linear ways” between the ages 3- 25.
Firstly, it enhances students creativity by allowing them to make a self-expression. In most art programms, students are asked to create a painting that represents memory or compose a new rhythm for a piece of music. When students are taught to think creatively, it helps them in their future career. Secondly, the arts improve academic performance, students who are regularly participate in the arts does better in their academic achievement. Thirdly, it develops the students fine motor skills when they hold an instrument such as a paintbrush or oil pastel. Fourthly, while mastering a subject, students build self-confidence. Fifthly, the arts help students to develop their visual-spatial skills. Students need to know more about their sorroundings through visual than just what they can learn through text and numbers. Art education teaches students to appreciate, criticize or interpret by using the visual information. Sixthly, the arts strengthens problem solving and critical thinking skills by allowing the students to make choices and decisions. This is certainly allows them to carry over into their education and other parts of life—as this is surely a valuable skill in their adulthood. Seventhly, perseverance whereby the students will be asked to develop new skills and work through difficult projects during the career. Eightly, focus whereby when students persevere through painting, singing or learning in a play, focus is
..., they improve social skills as well as one’s social image, and they improve one’s psychological health (Why Art Matters, 1). The arts also increase one’s perception and appreciation for life and the things in it (Why Art Matters, 1). Art is all around us everywhere we go and everywhere we look. It helps us understand where we are, where we are going, and how we get there. The preservation of history greatly relies on art to hold images, sounds, writing, and all sorts of other stuff form the past, so I guess you could say that recorded history is art (Social Impact of Art, 8). It helps get rid of multiracial and multicultural boundaries creating connections between people from all around the globe (How Art Impacts Society, 6). The arts, as well as the artist, are very important in today’s society and needs to be appreciated for what it is and what it’s done for us.