Education, Arts And Humanities

Democratic and “freedom-based education” (Koonce, 2015, p. 79) is anchored in the belief that people are “naturally curious” (Koonce, 2015, p. 80) and have an “innate desire to learn” (Koonce, 2015, p. 80). Children are more engaged in learning by what motivates them.

“After a certain high level of technical skill achieved, science and arts tend to coalesce in esthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientist are artist as well” (Albert Einstein). In this advanced modern tech-world mostly people are dependent on science and technology, but arts also play an important role in education. Art creates balanced thinking and better imagination which helps humans to be successful in their career. Yo-Yo Ma intensely informs about important role of arts in modern education society throughout his essay Necessary Edges: Arts, Empathy, and education. Ma illustrates that arts should be also part of education, because it improve students to filter their imagination through disciplined knowledge. Liberal arts should be equal to science and technology because it creates new idea, and in this modern world people should think critical than divergent in their lives. Empathy teaches students to understand and simplify the complicated life. Collaboration include discussion amongst people or group to make things effortless. Moreover liberal arts itself is beauty such as performing arts, it values the beauty of imagination in modern society by art and sculpture.

In American classrooms many democratic ideals are present. Each classroom may use them in different ways, but they are all around the school system. In each classroom visited during TE-100 democracy was alive. Each school proudly displayed a true democratic atmosphere from the large, diverse hallways of Grand Island Senior High, the colorful, friendly rooms of Holdrege Middle School, or the fun, interactive feel of Kenwood Elementary. In each school, students of all types were all given amazing democratic environments to learn and grow in, and are all in the process of becoming democratic citizens.

There are many benefits to getting a Liberal Arts degree in today’s economic market. It is a message to your employer that you are willing to take on new information, and learn more then what is necessary to succeed. It shows initiative and the ability to expand your horizons beyond yourself. In a Liberal Arts education there is more purpose then just learning the career field of choice. It is a program that teaches critical thinking and self-thought. It teaches the student how to learn and teach themselves, to achieve more than just memorization of facts.

Education is a process where one learns and apply the same learned information to a practical situation. Isaac Newton, a physicist and a mathematician, managed to discover the indescribable universe we now know, because of what we call liberal education. He did not study physics only but he learned other subjects including mathematics. He understood the basis needed to discover now called the imaginary world, universe. Moreover, author Sanford J. Ungar also portrayed the same idea about the importance of liberal education. He pointed it as a way to create capable and cultivated human beings. Liberal arts broaden the way humans think, such that we not only focus on one skill to tackle a problem but to look at range of skills. Additionally, the author also answered the wired misconceptions that are already in peoples’ minds by proving them wrong.

Recently, the job market has been very competitive especially for students straight out of college, however students with a liberal arts background have a greater advantage as they are more appealing to employers. There are hundreds of liberal arts colleges in the United States, however they are often overlooked due to false perceptions regarding price. Liberal arts schools prepare students for the real world by providing a well-rounded education, smaller class sizes that allow for more individualized learning, and a unique college experience. Liberal arts schools aim to provide students with a wide variety of knowledge instead of requiring them to specialize as freshman. General education classes help set students up for a successful career path.

When I first heard of liberal arts schools, I thought of institutions like Julliard where students who want to study the arts attend. I pictured students painting on canvas, dancers leaping across stage, and musicians composing beautiful music. Since beginning my college visitations, I have come to realize that is far from what you will see at liberal arts colleges such as Loras. A liberal arts education not only touches on the arts but also the areas of history, science, math, language, and several more. Throughout my first thirteen years of schooling, I have taken classes covering many different subjects. Liberal arts schools continue to encourage one to learn about topics in various areas of study in order to obtain a more rounded education.

In recent discussions of liberal arts degrees, a controversial issue has been whether they are worth getting rather than a vocational degree. On one hand, some argue that getting a liberal arts degree is a waste of money and there are very limited jobs out there that a liberal arts degree could be used for. On the other hand, however, others argue that in order to be a well-rounded person and to be more interesting, a student should work towards a liberal arts degree. According to this view, even though there is not one specific job that the individual will be trained for while obtaining a liberal arts education, he or she will be feeding their brain and giving himself or herself a chance to develop better knowledge of subjects in social sciences, literature, and mathematics. In sum, then, the issue is whether getting a liberal arts education is worth it or not. My own view is that I believe being an intellectually developed person is extremely important; therefore, I agree that pursuing a liberal arts education can be very valuable.

I strongly agree with Alan Wildman’s article “We ignore the liberal arts at our peril” about the significance of a liberal art degree as the liberal arts and humanities maintain a crucial role in creating an active society that inspires and advances throughout different academic fields. Graduates of humanities and liberal arts have a better understanding of cultures and history and thus it creates a more open minded society and inspires scholars in other academic fields and prevents the society from repeating previous mistakes. Moreover, the liberal arts influence is the foundation of other fields as it provides the chance of thinking more actively and thus creates more original ideas that can be applied in other careers. For instance, authors write about fascinating gadgets in their fiction novels, which inspires scientists and engineers to create these inventions in real life.

When my guidance counselor and I had the first conversation about college, I knew that a liberal arts curriculum was the right way to go. It would give me the ideal environment to nourish my curiosity and intellectual drive to learn about philosophy and art. Then I realised how important practising visual arts is for me. Therefore, I was on a quest to find a liberal arts college which actively encouraged the growth of my creative drives as much as other subjects.

Although only three people are mentioned here, their influence and opinions are still present because their beliefs reach the public through the media and other forms of communication. Therefore, the purpose of education to influence democratic qualities and lifestyles is a common perspective that is most likely widespread throughout society.

In my own words, the Liberal arts embraces so many parts of the world and the lives we live that it is one of the most important studies that humanity can embark upon. Liberal arts fits into my life by helping me to look outside of myself and see the world around me. It helps me to treat others well because I often use my humanity to keep in mind that we are just that human. Natural sciences open my eyes to everything from how my food is grown to staying green and keeping the earth

Liberal arts education has been pursued by great thinkers and enthusiastic learners throughout the centuries. Great thinkers have sought out to expand their knowledge and gain a better and deeper understanding of the world in which they live. This has been accomplished by laying foundations of knowledge gained through diligently studding subjects such as physics, mathematics, art, history, philosophy, music and denoting an equal appreciation for each of these subjects. Each of these subjects is capable of expanding our comprehension of how the things of this world work. Not one of them is more capable as compared to the other, in regards to broadening our horizons or expanding our critical thinking abilities. Instead each subject matter holds within it the power for personal, professional and mental growth.

One of the main responsibilities that education must achieve in a democratic society argues that it is the proper preparation of students for the roles of successful citizens and responsibilities they must be ready to take on when they are ready to take on the world. We do not add together individuals and call it a society. We as teachers, teach children so they can be a part of today’s society. People’s lives are woven together and we share a common life and goals.

“The arts are an essential element of education, just like reading writing, and arithmetic…music dance, painting, and theatre are all keys that unlock profound human understanding and accomplishment” (William Bennett, Former US Secretary of Education).