Essay on The Importance of Art Education

Art education is different for each individual. Some individuals have a formal art education that includes weekly, sometimes daily, lessons, while some students receive one week of the year dedicated to art and taught by their homeroom teacher after state testing. I was a teacher’s kid that knew how to craft and get all of the paint supplies out of the class. However, I was never taught the importance of holding my brush a certain way or the difference between foreground and background. Once I made it to high school, I was required to take an art history class and once again in college. My eyes were open to how art has changed over the years, but it’s impact on our nation’s history. Another form of art that I have been exposed to is dance. I began dance when I was eighteen months old and continued for twenty years. I am trained in multiple styles including jazz, tap, lyrical, clogging, and ballet. Through dance, I have gain a greater appreciation for the practice and spend time watching So You Think You Can Dance to learn the different types of dance from around the world. Art has the ability to make a significant impact on each life differently and diversely. Dr. Pamela Stephens (2007) encourages teachers to look beyond the curricular benefits of teaching art, and notice the way art can connect individuals with a unique way of expressing their personal growth.

Because of this, arts education is required in most states. Fran Smith points out why arts education should be a requirement in schools. She says, “Years of research show that it's [arts education] closely linked to almost everything that we as a nation say we want for our children and demand from our schools: academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity” (Smith 1). She lists these goals in hopes that people will realize the benefits that arts education could have if taken seriously. Smith uses her professional knowledge to promote her opinion on arts

Using theses conclusions, one can justify art integration as a means of increasing attendance to school as well as productivity. If a student can remain engaged, excited, and interested in their own learning, then their growth academically will flourish. These studies also found interesting correlation in young students growth academically when paired with art education. The study conducted by the Arts Education Partnership found that “James

The arts have been an essential part of culture since the beginning of civilization. Over time, art education paths became more normal in society, and were implemented into schools. These classes have gone through numerous budget cuts, but statistics have kept the field alive, showing improvement in core subjects is associated with a sound foundation in at least one art. The fine arts come in many forms, and each one is unique (Encyclopedia of Career and Vocational Guidance).

The purpose of this presentation is to persuade my audience that school officials should focus on and advocate for visual and music art based programs, making them a continued part of the school curricula because such programs facilitate the learning process for all students and should never be eliminated. Also, art based programs provides a well-rounded education and levels the playing field for at risk youths that are socioeconomic disadvantaged.

Above, Fowler makes the argument that schools that engage students believe in the importance of arts program because the arts ability to connect across contents. In addition, the arts is a vehicle that teachers can use to enhances a particular content area. For example, Cruz (2009)

Unfortunately, while the majority of people think that the arts are expressive and creative, most will agree that does not make them essential to education. Some even view the arts as usless; a costly waste of time. Hence, art programs in schools are often squeezed in, if taught at all, and the the first to be cut when the budget is trimmed. With government policies such as the Common Core State Standards in mind, school districts have begun to re-direct funds toward subjects that require standardized testing, with the intention of increasing the overall scores of their students. In doing so, they have sidelined arts education. Although, ironically, art education academically benfits student work on the whole curriculum.

Recently, more and more schools have been cutting out artistic programs out of their curriculum because of the lack of funds. The arts may seem like a useless tool to some, but to others, it’s a necessity. The arts may not be for everyone, but the arts may be the key to one’s future. The only way to know if the arts are for them, the arts should be an option for high school students. With this option, students may be able to express themselves, while learning numerous of different tools that may be beneficial later in life.

From someone’s favorite TV show to the number one hit song on the radio, the arts are everywhere. The arts can include chorus, band, art, drama, and foreign languages--depending on who is asked--but the fact still remains: The arts are in the everyday lives of every single person in the United States, possibly even the world. However, some people do not find the arts to be important for children and students to learn in school. This opinion, wherever it stems from, can be proven incorrect by the scientific research and psychological evidence that shows the arts can help children develop at a young age, improve high school and junior high students’ academic performance, and positively affect the futures of those same kids.The arts are important

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls” (Pablo Picasso). Being educated in the arts is an important part of many people’s lives. Arts education is thought to be inferior to the core subjects, but they truly are not. Art of all forms is crucial to one's health, and is an underrated thing. Being educated in the arts is thought to provide physical benefits, emotional benefits, and is even thought to help make students smarter.

Art education has been proven to help with “cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal skills” as well as “motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork” (Smith). Having the ability and patience to sit down and paint a masterpiece or work through a song on the piano requires high focus and dedication. Students willing to do this will in turn have stronger skills to focus and be dedicated in other subjects. The mixture of all these abilities gained from participation in art programs lead to higher test scores and overall better performance in school. Still, these are only a few of the assets provided by art education.

Unlike in most classes in which correct answer and rules prevail, in the arts it’s judgment rather than rules. It is taught that problems can have more than just one solution and that questions can have more than one answer. The arts celebrate many perspectives. One of the largest lessons is that there are so many different way to see and interpret the world. These kids are taught that small differences can have large effects. All art forms employ some means through which images become real. Art helps kids say what can not be said. When children are invited to disclose what a work of art helps them feel, they must reach into their poetic capacities. Arts enable us to have experience we can have from no other source and through such experience to discover the range and variety of what we are capable of feeling. Arts' position in the school curriculum symbolizes to the young what adults believe is important. We lose sense of the Arts most of the time as we get older and then we lose touch of a lot of skills that are learned with it. By making Art mandatory in schools, you will help the kids in all these different types of way. The Arts are a vital part of their future in order to really succeed! I hope you consider this and

John Donne once said “Women are like the arts, forced unto none, open to all searchers, unprized, if unknown.” John Donne was saying that art is not pushed onto anyone, people go to art, art does not go to the people. Students in school should go to art, not have art thrown at them.Classes in the arts should be an elective because it would look better on a college resume, it would be a better learning environment, and would be much more enjoyed by the class.

The art programs contribute towards helping a student learn more successfully in the classroom and prepare them for adulthood. Without these programs children will not receive the full artistic and creative experience that will help them succeed as adults. Art education should be kept in schools because they benefit students in an academic setting, teaching then study patterns, helping promote creativity and growing into successful adults.

Art education has many intangible benefits. Through the arts students learn how to express their thoughts and feelings about their personal and community identity. Students are encouraged to utilize creative problem solving though the design and implementation of new ideas. Students learn perseverance and mental fortitude through reflection and critique (Ulbricht, 2002). While art advocates understand these intangibles, the general public often needs to see tangible outcomes.