“Studies show that access to arts education in school offers distinct benefits to economically disadvantaged youth and students at risk of dropping out” (Ruppert). The importance of visual and performing art classes that provide art education has been debated for several of years. Many feel that art education has no actual use and is a waste of time for those involved. But in reality, “Students at risk of dropping out of school indicate their participation in the arts as a reason for staying in school” (Ruppert). The arts connect to individuals of American society today in a way that makes them feel like they have a purpose. “Art education offers students opportunities to experience success, providing an important balance in their total educational experience” (“Why the Arts are Important”). Students learn to explore various parts of possible enjoyments that will create a hobby for which an individual will be proud. Some parents do not approve of art education because they believe that it is a distraction in their children’s educational environment. Most parents would rather have their children be intelligent in core classes, such as math or science, to lead them up to a career that makes more money. What parents do not know is that art education is way more beneficial to a student’s life than they think. Many students find that they are talented in the performing arts area and want to pursue that lifelong dream with their skills. “Neuroscientists continue to find clues as to how the mental and physical activities required for the arts are so fundamental to brain function” (Sousa). Art, therefore, plays a significant role in today’s learning society. Art education should be funded throughout all schools because it builds motor ski... ... middle of paper ... ...rt Smarts: Lessons Learned About Investing in a Well Rounded Education.” Education Digest, 1 Sept. 2009: n. pag. eLibrary. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. Lynch, Grace Hwang. “The Importance of Art in Child Development.” PBS Parents. PBS, n.d.: n.pag. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. Nathan, Linda. “Why the Arts Makes Sense in Education.” Phi Delta Kappan, 1 Nov. 2009: n. pag. eLibrary. Web. 27 Oct. 2013. Ruppert, Sandra S. “Critical Evidence How the Arts Benefit Students Achievement.” Nasaa-arts.org. N.p., 2006. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. Smith, Fran. “Why the Art Education is Crucial, and Who’s Doing it Best.” Edutopia. The George Lucas Education Foundation, n.d.: n.pag. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. Sousa, David A. “How the Arts Develop the Young Brain.” AASA. AASA, Dec. 2006. Web. 5 Nov. 2013. “Why the Arts are Important for all Students.” Rochester City School District. School Wires, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
Art educates. This education can be both positive and negative but art can function as an educational tool that has lasting effects. A 2009 article in the New York Times titled: “Schools Adopt Art as Building Block of Education” indicates the growing acceptance of art functioning in education. In this article, the unique architecture of the building was used practically by students “measuring whimsical figures of hot-air balloons, paper airplanes and pinwheels built right into the walls of their school” (par. 1). The architecture also functioned as inspiration for further learning. In addition, the article documented the perspective of a four-year old child who proclaimed that “When you look at it, it helps you learn.” (par. 20) When Jeremiah looked at the image of heaven and hell he learned significant life lessons. This picture that was presented in residential school ...
Holcomb, Sabrina. "Arts Education." Rss. National Education Association, 17 Jan. 2007. Web. 10 May 2016.
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.
Lynch, Grace Hwang. "The Importance of Art in Child Development." pbs.org. PBS, 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
Smith, Fran. “Why Arts Education Is Crucial, and Who’s Doing It Best.” Edutopia.org. The George
Smithrim, Katharine, and Rena Upitis. "Learning through the Arts: Lessons of Engagement." Canadian Journal of Education / Revue Canadienne De L'éducation. 28. Canadian Society for the Study of Education, 2005. 109-127. JSTOR. Web. 3 Apr. 2012. .
Lewis, R., & Lewis, S. (2008). The Power of Art. Connecticut, United States: Cengage Learning.
“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.
The arts are not only a nice way to pass time; the arts can greatly help with education. Schools in the United States have encouraged children to have an outlet and if the outlet is not sports, most kids take some kind of art class. According to Velasco (2012), a child development specialist, certain students who have taken at least one art credit every year since the start of third grade were more likely to comprehend math and literature easier; for example, counting the beats in every stanza of music or learning the history and background of song lyrics. Velasco also states that students scored 1.5 times better in standardized tests, than kids who did not take an art credit. By helping schools fund art programs, the skills learned by students taking these classes can ultimately help schools excel in academic achievements, and they can aid students to a brighter future.
Kaiser, M. (2002, June). National standards of art education. Retrieved October 29th, 2002 from http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/. Provides the national standards for art education. Also has teaching materials and professional resources for art educators.
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.
“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life” (Picasso). These words about the fine arts describe not only life in general, but also apply to everyday life of public school students. Many students need something to divert their attention away from jaded academics that cause them stress and mental deterioration. Fine arts are the solution to that problem; unlike academics and athletics, they provide an outlet for students to be creative and discover their talents without the pressure other courses produce. Additionally, the arts stimulate the brain, and generally promote positive brain activity and development in teenagers. So, if fine arts positively affect students, then why are they so
Firstly, children’s cognitive development is greatly enhanced through visual arts. In order for children to produce art, they have to think of an idea, an experience or feeling and construct symbols to express what they know (Isbell & Raines, 2007). Exploration of art materials help children build a knowledge of their physical properties which supports decision-making, evaluation and problem-solving (Edwards, 2010). Moreover, children will have many opportunities to work together in small groups and will then learn to value others’ ideas (Isbell & Exelby, 2001). Since visual arts is a form of self-expression, children can express their feelings through artworks and hence, learn emotional regulation. Small muscle development occurs when children cut, paste, draw and paint while large muscles develop through activities such as creating a large mural (Isbell & Raines, 2007). Therefore, visual arts enhances children’s development in all