Why Do We Teach Art in Schools?

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Many times in life, the importance of the creative mind is overlooked in a hope that beyond that mind is something of more importance to society. The need for someone to find a cure for “x” or to discover why “q=p” is viewed as a higher priority than discovering the next Gustav Klimt or Rembrandt. Being of significance in today’s society is measured in beakers and equations not watercolors and pencils. Because of this mentality it is vital that teachers not overlook the merit of teaching and incorporating art into his/her daily lesson plans.

What many people do not realize is how incorporating art into a lesson plan can not only add to the learning practice, it can bring fun and introduce different elements to a seemingly mundane or routine experience. In addition to these things studies have shown that incorporating art in lesson plans can raise the level of SAT scores. According to the College Entrance Examination Board, “SAT scores of students who studied arts for more than four years were 59 points higher on the verbal portion and 44 points higher on the math portion than were the scores of students with no course work or experience in the arts” (Sakura).

Cutting art from a school’s program, due to financial cutbacks, may prove to be more costly than keeping it would be. Martin F. Gardiner of Brown University’s Center for the Study of Human Development found that first-grade students who regularly received just one hour of music and one hour of visual art each week showed “improved reading skills and were significantly ahead in math skills compared to control groups in other first-grade classrooms” (Gardiner). What do these statistics show us? Obviously it means that art is more...

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...cate art programs in our schools. If schools are looking for an equation that proves that art is necessary, this is it: art + children = success.

Works Cited

Ansary, Tamim. More Art, Better Schools. 2006. 27 Sept. 2014.

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Gardiner, Martin F. Study of arts, music may enhance young pupils' math and reading skills. 12 Feb. 1998. 18 Sept. 2014.

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The Importance of Art In Schools. 27 June 2000. Sakura of America. 19 Sept. 2014.

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The Painter’s Keys. Genn, Robert. 2006. 18 Sept. 2014. .

Wachowiak, Frank and Robert D. Clements. Emphasis Art. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc. 2006.

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