Art Will Make Your Kids Better Thinkers Analysis

Studies have shown that art programs help the development of the brain by improving “mental representations of what is observed or imagined; symbolic, allegorical and metaphorical representations; careful observation of the world; and abstraction from complexity”(How the Arts). So why would the school board or government allow budget cuts in school art programs if it helps improve a child's development of the brain? Even though language arts and mathematics are important and basic courses that every student may need in the future, art programs should not have budget cuts because it helps improve a child’s learning ability and understanding of the world around them. It also helps students and children in low income communities that may not have

Finally, not only do we learn to be more conscious because of the arts, but we learn of the past from it too. Walsh writes, “Through art we learn the joy felt during times of happiness and we see the pain and despair during times of suffering...It shows us how those events impacted the people living them.” Students can be given a photograph of a painting--or can even visit a museum--and be told to study it. They will be able to see the movement in the art alone. As a result, the students will have time to think about what they are seeing rather than learning it from a textbook.

When children take the arts classes it promotes self-directed learning, school attendance improves, and their critical and creative skill improve along with it.

To begin with, education and engagement in fine art programs are an essential part within the school curriculum because subjects such as mathematics, science, and language arts all require cognitive and creative capacities which are enhanced with the process of learning art. For instance, in the article, Critical Evidence: How the Arts Benefits Student Achievement, it states that “researchers

One reason they should not be cut from schools is, fine arts have tremendous benefits. The arts also help with early childhood development. Some say they are the building blocks of child development. Arts education helps with motor skills, language development, decision making, visual learning, inventiveness, cultural awareness and diversity, and even improved academic performance. High arts education in a school engages, learning, results in higher test scores, and lowers drop out and truancy rates.

One of the many benefits the fine arts have is that if schools made their fine arts programs mandatory it would increase their IQ scores. To start with, an intelligence quotation or IQ test measures the students potential, not how intelligent they are. Joanne Lipman writer of “A Musical Fix for U.S. Schools” reports that the fine arts give potential to their students:

Famous Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso, once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Schools all around the United States are closing their arts programs including music, art, and theatre, because of budget cuts. More than 25% of public high schools have closed done away with their arts programs. Blogger Katrina Soliman stated in her blog about the lack of creative opportunities in school, “Children have a knack for originality” and “Schools advise students to be creative but do not give time to do so.” The arts, however, are very important to children while they learn to grow and there have been hundreds of studies showing why they’re important. They improve test scores, give students creative ideas after high school and there are also other nonacademic uses.

As the articles states that "research suggests that skills learned in playing an instrument may mirror effective reading" (Cho, D. L., & Vitale, D. L., 2014). I agree with this because you need to learn how to read the music notes, just like you have to learn how to read to read a book. So, when a child is learning to play an instrument they gain knowledge and skills that could be used in many other ways. Also, learning to perform music has many other skills that you could use in other subjects and in the long-term because when you learn to play a musical instrument you gain skills that improve your capabilities of your memory (Cho, D. L., & Vitale, D. L., 2014). They will also gain teamwork skill because when you play an instrument you are most likely part of band and also, in order to make music you need to work with others (Matthews, M., 2011). Also, increasing coordination, hand eye coordination because when playing an instrument, you need read the notes and play the instrument at the same time. How I can incorporate art into the curriculum is by playing music in the classrooms this is a great way to incorporate music a little bit at a

The brain is divided into two separate bisections, the left and right hemisphere, children need both sides of the brain innervated in order to learn properly. The left hemisphere is responsible for perceiving information more logically and analytically, it is the side that processes things math, science, and writing. Whilst the right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for more imaginative creative thinking, the importance of developing both segments of the brain is not something that should be overlooked. With the aid of the arts, children see there are an infinite set of different perspective, each complexity is in the eye of the beholder, this shapes how kids view and react to problems. Every child is different, and art can be compromised to each child's individual personality in a way math and science cannot. This results in separate individuals and a diverse society where no one is the same. Since the beginning, humans have naturally been innovative and found experimental ways to negotiate through life. Creativity is valued in any career path, just as much as logic, employers are looking for fresh new ideas rather than regurgitated information. For example in his article Anthony Fasano, a internationally known inspirational speaker who specializes in

It can improve test scores and educational ability in many different ways. Participation in the arts program shows higher levels of confidence in academics than those who don't have instruction in this area. A study was done in 2004 addressing Psychological Science it was discovered that there is an increase in children's IQ's when they were given instruction in arts and music. In the article The Arts are a Vital Part of Education, it states, students who take fine arts classes are 4 times more likely to receive more recognition for academic achievement." Students who take fine arts classes also tend to have more skill in learning and developing languages. Communication is extremely important in a student's life, therefore having the fine arts program to increase speaking skill is beneficial to the student. Performing arts not only allows children to not only listen to music but to play music which enhances their verbal capacities and

Some people look at art as something trivial, a thing people do because they are too lazy to have a professional occupation, but to others, art engulfs their whole world, gives life meaning, and they feel as if talent is only gained by hard work. With these opinions, there can be a debate on including art in education, and whether or not the education system should be putting more of an emphasis on teaching children art. Specifically visual art, although there are valid arguments on why other spectrums of the arts should also be taught in school.

There are people who think that the arts have no value as it does not help with child development and it hinders academic results. This is not true as mentioned earlier, the arts have a great effect on students academic achievements and it also helps with child development. Math scores increase depending on the art course being taken by the students. Students who took acting/play production or music theory courses had the highest math scores and the highest verbal scores as well.(Vaughn, Kathryn, and Ellen Winner 8) Art courses help child development and adolescent development as well. “Research conducted reveals that art learning experiences alter the attitudes of young people toward themselves and others and that students involved in theater arts show gains in reading proficiency as well as self-control, motivation, empathy and tolerance for others.

Students who are in art related classes tend to have higher grades in college and more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree. Art research has proven that low socioeconomic status students have even greater increases in college grades, academic performance, and great paying jobs in their future. “Statistics show thirty percent of low socioeconomic status students tend to have more opportunities in the workforce taking art related classes in their schools” ("10 Studies on the Importance of Art in Education"). Most agree Americans that arts are part of a well-rounded K-12 education and should be taken is important as the common core class. “Students who have access to art education have higher GPAs and standardized test scores” (Gifford). Students who benefit from art education in their youth are more likely to excel in their future jobs. Studies reveal art education can influence students to see from a different perspective and makes them more likely to problem solve much quicker compared to students who did not get to benefit from art education. “Creativity is among the top 5 applied skills sought by business leaders—with 72 percent saying creativity is of high importance when hiring” (Cohen). Creativity formed during a young age can be of importance in the outside world when hiring. Art education can unify communities regardless of race, age, and ethnicity. Students can be helped to understand other cultures

Schools that offer fine arts classes have lower dropout rates and raised attendance. The fine arts positively impact students of lower socioeconomic status more those of a higher  status. The fine arts have no barriers for race, religion, and culture when it comes to being involved in the arts. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to be involved (Katy Independent School District). Without the arts these students have no outlet for creative capabilities and no way to express their talents. Students who need this way of expressing themselves are overlooked and they are the ones who need it the most (Dickson). When viewing the participation of arts in the eyes of a ten-year old, “It cools kids down after all the other hard stuff they have to think about” (Arts and Smarts: Test Scores and Cognitive Development).

“People are forgetting that math is taught when a child is playing an instrument. English is taught when a child is reading or writing a script. Critical thinking is taught when a child is analyzing art” (Sabrina Holcomb). There is a significant correlation between participating in the arts, and success in school. Multiple studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between playing an instrument, and an increase in scores in mathematical subject. In these studies, it was also noted that students who were more creative were better problem solvers than students who were not as creative. All of these characteristics are sought after in the work force, meaning that the arts not only help during the school years, but in work and business as well (Ron Whitehorne). Also, it is important to note that “Low-income students who had arts-rich experiences in high schools were more than three times as likely to earn a B.A. as low-income students without those experiences. And the new study from the National Endowment reports that low-income high school students who earned little or no arts credits were five times more likely not to graduate from high school than low-income students who earned many arts credits” (Tyleah Hawkins). The arts have always been used as a form of expression and inspiration for people across the world, the arts have also been shown to improve high-risk student's outlook on their schooling. Research has shown that the arts help improve standardized test scores like the ACT or SAT (Tyleah Hawkins).People who support the arts believe that quality art education can help engage at-risk students in ways that other subjects such as math, science, or reading cannot. This is why it is believed that the arts are a key tool in the prevention of high-school dropout. There are many studies that point to a lower dropout rate for students who participate in