Rationale for Integrating the Arts

The educational subject areas focusing on the fine arts and cultural studies are notable for their many shared developmental outcomes and related teaching methodology challenges. Analysis of previously implemented art-based programs and learning strategies devised to supplement cultural studies indicates it may be a uniquely productive approach. The use of creative instruction in forms including but not limited to play-acting, creation of visual arts, and musical instruction has high effectiveness in the context of maximizing student receptivity to cultural transmission. Students of both subjects have also been observed to demonstrate markedly improved intellectual, behavioral, and emotional growth from programs which integrate up-to-date modern research and intuitive planning to navigate the complex environment of cultural pluralism. Many such programs feature the direct involvement of artists and other relevant professionals with students to enrich and ensure the quality of the educational experience.

Despite taking the place of a core class, fine arts can bolster and strengthen a student’s abilities in said core classes. Art is accessible to everyone and therefore can create a new sense of unity and connection among peers in and out of school. Students often don’t have many ways to express themselves, but by taking classes in the fine arts, students would have an expressive medium to do so inside of school. Skills learnt in fine arts classes can be used for a student’s entire life, regardless of age or condition, and thanks to the many other advantages of these courses, should be required for students to

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

“Young people who are disengaged from schools and other community institutions are at the greatest risk of failure or harm. The researchers found that the arts provides a reason , and sometimes the only reason , for being engaged with school or other organizations . These young people would otherwise be left without access to any community of learners.”. (Fiske)

Schools and educators are beginning to understand the value of inclusion of art education in K-12 curriculum more and more each year. So much so, that many states are adopting common core standards and hiring highly qualify teachers to teach in the subject area of visual arts. “Research over the past decade reveals areas where effective arts education strategies, especially arts integration techniques, have yielded practical and impressive results,” (Education Digest, 2011). Part of what is driving this initiative is the understanding that some students learn most effectively through the arts (Robinson, 2013). Recent research reflects that art integration correlates with low-performing learners by increasing test scores. Studies conducted in North Carolina and Oklahoma with art integration programs tracked consistent gains in student achievement as compared with state and district averages

For some unexplainable reason it is a common belief that the fine arts have no place in the education system. People want to say that the arts are unimportant and that students should put all of their focus on subjects such as Math or English. Parents want students to pursue a “meaningful” career (e.g. doctors, lawyers, teachers, or architects) so they encourage and sometimes force their children to ignore the arts completely. What these people do not know or maybe simply ignore however, is that the presence of fine arts in a student’s life is vital to the integrity of his or her academic success because they increase their brain’s attention span and cognitive processes.

Arts education is something that thrives off knowledge and experiences in which students are allowed to have artistic expression. Integrated arts plays a significant role in fostering the development of self expression, and confidence (Hassan). This means that an arts education facilitates students in learning how to understand things through creativity. Arts students who are provided an opportunity to do something artistic task individually, will take initiative. Being allowed to produce original art fosters creativity and creative skills, which help students in developing decision-making skills, making them more confident in their own abilities to enter the real world and be productive and efficient.

The gratitude gained from assignments in the arts greatly impact their performance in class. Winner Ellen stated in her article on arts throughout the school day, “from improving their ability to express themselves and honing their creativity, to promoting the value of hard work in achieving certain objectives, arts education can push children and adolescents to become more effective students and, in the long run, can better prepare them to navigate the challenges of the 21st century” (Ellen, Stéphan). The improvement that is seen in the classroom is observed here. The author is saying that the classroom will become a more effective aspect of schools when the arts are incorporated into the system. Many times educators overlook the arts and they are not included into basic learning, this in turn causes the classroom to lack some of the skills that are achieved in the

contributing to the sociocultural and economic revitalisation of a community (Stanziola, 1999). Therefore, when implemented effectively, arts integration begets various beneficial outcomes for learners, and others within the educational and community environments and such benefits relate particularly well to concepts surrounding diversity and inclusion.

It has been proven that students in art and music programs are about four times as likely to win an academic award than a student who is not into the arts. This means that students who participate in music and art programs already have a much higher chance of achieving things as those who don't participate in those programs. In school districts today, art has been seen either as a distraction or a value. Although art programs aren’t required in all school, all schools should include some art and music programs because, these programs can only be a good thing for artistic students.

We, as educators, must provide children the instructional opportunities that can tap on their latent potentials. I recognize the importance of student achievement scores of reading and math is at the forefront of teacher practice; but we are also responsible to create learners who have a strong self-identity and recognize the importance of their culture and acceptance of other cultures. I believe including arts-based education can help educators achieve such a

School is essential to the lives of everyone, how well they do in those thirteen years dictates the kind of future someone will have; the job they get, the family they raise. A key part of school is test-taking, and many students struggle with this critical aspect. When students are involved in a fine arts program, however, they are seen to obtain higher test scores than those who are not a part of those electives. This is not just limited to math tests or science quizzes, “Students who took four years of art classes scored 91 points higher on their SAT exams”, which means those four years of belting out songs or weaving beautiful music were worth something--their future (Metla). Higher SAT scores mean a brighter future, with more chances of success. The arts improve graduation rates in schools and those students in those programs are “four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievements” (11 Facts About Arts in Education). Numerous studies have been done over the years, highlighting all the ways the arts can benefit a student academically, whether it is from lowering the dropout rate, or by raising standardized test scores, the answer is obvious; the arts significantly improve the success rate or students

Using arts helps students become engaged and it also shows that students have a vivid understanding of the material. In the article “2 Reasons” the senior program consultant of the John F. Kennedy center for performing arts center, Lynne B. Silverstein writes about the benefits of using the arts in the classroom. She writes: “When students learn through arts integration, they are engaged in experiences in which they actively build and demonstrate their understanding of both the art form and the other curriculum area.” (Silverstein). What she is implying is that arts integration has helped students become more active in participating in the classroom.

The arts reach students that are not normally reached by normal methods (Bryant par. 4). A statement said by Adam Savage to the Tampa Bay Times about why he thinks the arts should be in school, "If you want the kids' test scores up, bring back band and bring back shop and get kids actually learning stuff instead of teaching them how to take a test," (Wynne par. 1). What he means is that most students only remember the information fed to them because they will need it on a test, but after that they will forget it unless they are interested in that field of study. Another reason to keep the arts in school is because when students are reached with the arts they are more likely to stay in school which leads to better attendance, which leads to better learning for that student, which then leads to their grades rising. The data supporting the belief that the study and practice of the arts are a major part of improving the learning in all academic areas (Bryant par. 2). One study states that 21 percent of students with a low social standing who have studied in the art have scored higher in math versus students that have not participated in the arts (Bryant par. 4). By senior year students, that have studied the arts, their math skills have risen by 33 percent and students that do not participate in the arts have only risen 16 percent (Bryant par. 4). Another study, from James S. Catterall professor at UCLA’s Graduate School of Education and Information Sciences, states that middle schoolers that have participated in the arts more scored an average of 16 to 18 percentage points higher than students who did not participate in the arts (Evans par. 14). A study conducted by researchers at the University of California reported that college students that listened to 10 minutes of Mozart before taking parts of an intelligence test improved their scores (Evans par. 10). This finding is called the

Brain research has shown that music improves skills in math and reading, and also promotes creativity, attention, social development, personality adjustment, and self-worth. Music is poetry, so there is no doubt that it can improve skills in reading and language. Also, “Recent research offers a possibility with much better, science-based support: that focused training in any of the arts strengthens the brain’s attention system, which in turn can improve cognition more generally” (Posner). In 2008, The Dana Foundation published Learning Arts, and the Brain: The Dana Consortium Report on Arts and Cognition. Consortium director, Michael Gazzaniga, Ph.D., also director of the Sage Center for the Study of Mind at the University of California, discussed key highlights of the consortium’s findings of the arts. These