Literature Review
In reviewing the literature about the importance of art in education, three themes presented themselves repeatedly. The role/importance of Art Education is the first, second is the integration of art into other areas of the curriculum and the third is the importance of professional development of teachers, and pre-service teachers, in the area of visual art. Those three topics will be addressed in the following.
Role/Importance of Art Education
A common theme that emerged recurrently in the literature review was that of the role and/or the importance of Art Education, specifically in the elementary years. Keatinge, in 1967 stated, “The arts, and their place in school curricula, have been debated for centuries. (Keatinge, 1967). Unfortunately, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) has had a disadvantageous effect on the inclusion of art in classrooms simply because of the shift of focus. Despite the fact that NCLB reasserted fine arts significance in teaching, educators have “struggled to meet curricular and accountability mandates prescribed by NCLB amidst limited resources and dwindling budgets.” (Garcia, Jones, & Isaacson, 2015, p. 2). Teachers and administrators have been
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Baker cites Unsworth (1999) “Art is not demeaned by connecting it with math, science, social studies” but that, “The connection gives substance to the artwork and shape to the subject content.” Unsworth asserts that it is important to promote interdisciplinary thinking instead of fragmenting curriculum subjects (as cited in Baker, 2013, p. 1). Students need various learning opportunities and integration of the arts gives them just that. Arts integration teaching and learning practices create greater mobility in student performance in addition to increasing academic performance, thus “closing the achievement gap” (Scripp, & Paradis, 2014, p.
We are constantly being bombarded with visual culture throughout every hour of the day, though at times it may seem overwhelming and desensitizing, it is only getting more prevalent. Paul Duncum is an art educator who is corporating these aspects of visual culture in the classroom everyday and also teaching his students to do this as well. I have talked about Paul Duncum educational history, his contributions to art education, his teaching philosophy, and how I can use his beliefs and teachings in my future as an art educator. With my new found knowledge of Paul Duncum and his teaches, I hope, as a future educator to follow in his footsteps of incorporation of our society’s importance of visual art in my classroom.
...ent of art education in America. Especially because the United States is comparatively a young nation, it is crucial that we examine our practices and what influenced the development of these practices. Through the work of scholars such as Efland and Smith, it becomes increasingly clear, that the path of art education through America’s past is complex and evolving. Most importantly, it is through their research that we come to understand that the current state of art education, including its strengths and its flaws, can be traced to the events of the past that shaped it.
Since 2001, budget cuts in art education have increased dramatically. In New York from 2006-2011 funding for art education in public schools were cut 68% (Phifer 2).This epidemic is spreading all across America due to the push for better standardized test scores. Reading and math have become the governments highest priority, leaving the arts in the shadows. But what if the arts could also improve test scores? Despite what many government leaders believe, budget cuts in art education are depriving Americas children emotionally, academically and socially.
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.
Edmund Burke Feldman was an Alumni Foundation Distinguished University Professor of Art at the University of Georgia. He was an art educator as well as an art historian. He has written several books about art including The Philosophy of Art Education, First Edition, 1995. The primary focus of this paper is to inform and show what Doctor Feldman thought was important to art teachers by correlating the practices of teaching art to the issues of philosophy Doctor Feldman wanted to bring together both subjects of art education and art teaching. He outlined the principle issues of art education and provided art teachers with a way of creating goals for teaching art.
The fact that fine arts are needed is evident, but will schools respond or live in denial? The arts provide a safe environment for students to express themselves without the worry of ridicule. These kids should have the opportunity to participate in multiple fine arts activities as a way to communicate their feelings in a healthy atmosphere (Weber). Green Lake Elementary School believes its students “acquire a positive learning attitude for a lifetime, celebrate the uniqueness of all, understand similarities and differences, develop an appreciation, respect, and understanding of the physical environment, have fun, laugh, and enjoy learning” (New Horizons Dickerson 1).... ...
Jane Alexander, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), once said, “Many children are missing out on something which gives their education context, gives their lives depth and meaning, and prepares them to be the future workforce.” This “something” that she spoke of is music and art education. Unfortunately, she is entirely correct. We are currently seeing in our country a dramatic cut in arts education curriculum in our public schools due to the limited amount of both time and funding. In many cases budget cutbacks mean arts education cutbacks. This limited amount of resources often forces administrators to place a value on the various subject areas. There is always a demand for greater concentration upon the traditional basics: English, math, science, and history. There is also a new focus on computer competency and a renewed focus on the need for foreign language education. Add to this health education, family life education, industrial arts education, AIDS education, home economics, physical education, and business education and one begins to wonder where arts education fits in.
Art is intended for all to enjoy and learn from. Through an art curriculum; phonics, mathematics, and readiness skills to name a few can be learned through an art curriculum. With this curriculum a teacher can adapt that centers to teach those with diverse abilities such as emotional and intellectual challenges, visual impairments, hearing impairments, and orthopedic impairments.
Art is everywhere , every tv show, every ad , and every book is art. That is why it is a vital part in today 's education system, but in the rush to bring ip standardized test scores art programs are being dramatically cut and forgotten about altogether. With the new focus being on Common Core State Standards, which does not include art as a core, schools are having to take away art budgets to focus on cores that are being tested on.
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.
Art education is defined as a specific occupational area where the subject art is taught within a public or private school system. Because art classes are publicly funded, classes are provided to students who show artistic talent and those who do not (Salmon 103). The use of art can be dated back to the days of the Neanderthal, and until the Italian Renaissance, art was only considered culturally important and was not taught (DeHoyas). At the birth of the United States of America, male and female students were taught different forms of art, where the boys’ art was typically more functional. The teachings of art were ofte...
Art history is also a component of art education. This component includes teaching children ...
Therefore, A lot of schools are now implicating a program called Art integration. As Marshall, the author of “Transdisciplinarity And Art Integration: ...
Throughout the ages art has played a crucial role in life. Art is universal and because art is everywhere, we experience it on a daily basis. From the houses we live in (architecture) to the movies we see (theatre) to the books that we read (literature). Even in ancient culture art has played a crucial role. In prehistoric times cave dwellers drew on the wall of caves to record history. In biblical times paintings recorded the life and death of Christ. Throughout time art has recorded history. Most art is created for a specific reason or purpose, it has a way of expressing ideas and beliefs, and it can record the experiences of all people.