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The importance of teaching art in schools
Importance of art education at elementary level
Importance of art education at elementary level
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Children make up the future. That is why the components that go into raising them and their education are so crucial. The world needs well rounded people, who are not afraid to express and push themselves, skills that have to be learned early on. However there are many things changing in the way children are educated, and one of those things has been the reducing of art related education. There is this idea that arts in education is not as important as the core classes such as, math science and English. Much research on the other hand, shows that arts are important in development in a wide range of areas like a child 's motor skills, confidence, expression, and even improves other academic areas.
School systems are under constant changes
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As a child it is is important to use your muscles and work on controlling them. A child can learn to control their muscles more precisely by coloring in the lines, than reading a book, so it is important for them to have these experiences at a young age. As a whole in this world it is very important for a person to be creative and be able to make decisions, which art classes help with. It also can help with a child 's confidence, to make something they are proud of and be able to show it to people. In a list of facts posted by DoSomethign.org number five is, “Arts and music education programs are mandatory in countries that rank consistently among the highest for math and science test scores, like Japan, Hungary, and the Netherlands.” The also quote research that was found about art saying , “Students who study art are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and 3 times more likely to be awarded for school …show more content…
By learning to express themselves young they will not be as stressed as adults. And by starting the critical thinking and creation development at a young age they are more likely to be outgoing in their future and better in other subjects. One of the main things schools focus on teaching is critical thinking, and independent thinking. When compared, a child can learn and practice these skills by coming up with their own picture and creating it, working to get to an end goal and message, the same if not more than they can by reading a book and just absorbing
In art classes, one big factor is for students to be able to talk about their piece of art with their peers and teachers. Through this exercise they learn how to communicate with others in a professional and comfortable manner. Studies show that “Children who regularly participate in a comprehensive arts program are four-times more likely to be elected to class office” (Abrakadoodle). Children who participate in the arts are also more likely to meet different types of people and learn to socialize with many different personalities. For children who come from economic hardships, academics and making friends can be extremely tough.
There are many positive aspects associated with the arts and it is important people are aware of these benefits. According to Smithrim and Opitis, “reported benefits of the arts include the development of the imagination (Greene, 1995), greater motivation to learn (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997), increased student creativity, lower dropout rates, and increased social skills (Catterall, 1998; Luftig, 1995)” (110). These advantages can possibly set a student up for am extremely successful life. They should be embraced and utilized as opposed to overlooked and unmentioned.
What is art? Art is the self-expression of someone of something that shows the hidden or underlying emotions that are found within the unconscious mind. Art has been around for centuries (“Merriam-Webster”). Normally, art would tell stories of past events which were significant to that culture. This could include things such as hunts and sacrifices to please the gods. As people and humanity started to evolve and become more civilized, art started to transform and take on a new appearance as well. From being a story prop to something that is more abstract; art started to become more and more important in the lives of people. During the renaissance in Europe, many new artists and ways of thinking emerged and became the main-stream way of thinking. Many of those artist are household names such as Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci . They transformed art from what it was to how we see it today (Belliveau). Jumping forward from the renaissance to the 1960’s, you have artists emerge such as Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollok. They pushed the boundaries of art and how it was perceived in society (American Art Therapy Association).
Rhys Southan’s essay “Is Art a Waste of Time?” is about art and if it can really help people who are suffering or is it just better to hand over your money. In Yo-Yo Ma’s essay “necessary Edges: Arts, Empathy, and Education” he focuses more on art being used as educational purposes to essentially create more innovative/empathetic people. Instead of focusing so much on STEM, the author states that we should incorporate art too. Although some people might say art does not play a role in making the world a better place. I believe it can by bringing awareness to different social issues. Also, if we incorporate art at a young age it can teach kids to be open minded and happier people.
According to the National Art Education Association’s goals for schools, “all elementary schools shall require students to complete a sequential program of art instruction that integrates the study of art production, aesthetics, art criticism, and art history,” (Clark, 1987). Elementary schools are having difficulty because they are cutting back on the fine arts programming and many non-specialist classroom teachers are expected to integrate the fine arts into their daily curriculum. Most of these teachers feel inadequate and uncomfortable when teaching these subjects. The children are receiving inadequate lessons in art education. All elementary schools should expand their curriculum to include the fine arts as subjects, and licensed specialists should teach these subjects.
In the United States, fine art education in public schools have been a controversial topic for years. Due to fundings, imagine your child had to choose between art or math. Well of course a parent would choose a math course because they would not survive society in their future without counting. Although, fine art gives an opportunity for a student to express themselves with their thoughts and feelings through the participation of the fine arts. As in today’s society everything is consider “art”. That everything could be in fashion styles to the structures of building such as the Space Needle in Seattle.
In this stage, cultural or values of the family members give children an important impact for their growth. Children are actively in different kind of physical activities, their muscle movement and perception is getting stable, they know how to use language and create creativity. They like to copy others as well as feel curious about all the things around them and started to ask lots of questions. In this stable stage, children started know how to use their physical ability to do many things such as hit their friends or scold people. Children will aways ask: Is it okay for me to do what i do? If they encouraged to do, and adult give them lots of chances to engage activity with freedom they will feel happy and initiative to explore the environment around them. In the meantimes, their language ability will improve speedy, they use language to get new information and the initiative stimulate children's sense of communication or
The arts are not only a nice way to pass time; the arts can greatly help with education. Schools in the United States have encouraged children to have an outlet and if the outlet is not sports, most kids take some kind of art class. According to Velasco (2012), a child development specialist, certain students who have taken at least one art credit every year since the start of third grade were more likely to comprehend math and literature easier; for example, counting the beats in every stanza of music or learning the history and background of song lyrics. Velasco also states that students scored 1.5 times better in standardized tests, than kids who did not take an art credit. By helping schools fund art programs, the skills learned by students taking these classes can ultimately help schools excel in academic achievements, and they can aid students to a brighter future.
“Every student in the nation should have an education in the arts.” This is the opening statement of “The Value and Quality of Arts Education: A Statement of Principles,” a document from the nation’s ten most important educational organizations. The basic message is that music and art programs in the schools help our kids and communities in real and substantial ways. There is an abundant amount of facts and information that supports this statement. The benefits of arts education can be narrowed down into 4 basic categories: success in developing intelligence, success in ...
I knew very early in life that I enjoyed working with children; I am drawn to their eagerness to learn, their trusting nature, and their inquisitive minds. It has always been a joy for me to be around children, who are eager to learn. Children are thrilled when an adult takes time to read to them. After hearing a story only a couple of times, they are like a tape recorder set on replay. Their thirst for knowledge is overwhelming. At the elementary level, children also tend to have a very trusting nature. They rely heavily on their elders for guidance. Most children are very honest with their feelings and don't try to hide them. This is a crucial time in a child's life; it is a time when teachers and parents should be molding them for the future. It seems their minds are always working on something which makes them extremely inquisitive. Their curiosities seem never to be satisfied. Children are always asking "why?" even when they know the answer. The inquisitive child wants to know the how's, when's, and where's of everything.
Not only can art help improve a kids education over all, having it taught as a regular part of the curriculum helps children learn to express themselves in a way that is safe and promotes problem solving. There is no right answer in art so it allows the student to explore all options before finding the one
Solso, Robert L. The Psychology of Art and the Evolution of the Concious Brain. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT P. 13-21.
Art Education is not always valued in school settings. Although some may see it as an unnecessary use of school funding, there are many who believe it is beneficial to students in more ways than one. There are many different studies that have been conducted to test the effects that art education has on school-aged children. Some studies have proven that art education can help students to improve in other academic areas. In a journal article from Ohio State University’s “Theory in Practice,” Karen A Hamblen states, “There are linkages between art learning and learning in other subjects areas and that art study can promote creative behaviors, critical thinking skills, and academic achievement.” It has also been found that the arts can teach children better self-regulatory strategies, and even foster more confidence and self-efficacy in school which relates to confidence in academics. Overall, art education in schools has been very beneficial and has proven to ignite creativity, confidence, critical thinking skills, and academic achievement in students.
You may be thinking to yourself, schools do have Arts departments, so this is not an issue. Jill Hambek, writer for The Washington Times recently published an article titled “Arts programs in schools often in danger of being cut.” In the article, Hambek states, “Chicago Public Schools dealt a blow to arts education when it laid off over 1,000 teachers as a result of its recent decision to close over 50 schools. Among the most affected areas was arts education, in which twenty percent of the teachers let go, taught art or music” (Hambek 1). Art is important, and we must not let it disappear within the tangled mess of mathematic and scientific based programs within school curriculums. An arts education is essential to learning and creativity and its struggle in our current generation is in urgent need of attention. “The arts aren 't just important because they improve math scores. They’re important because they speak to parts of children’s being which are otherwise untouched” (Sir Ken
Firstly, it enhances students creativity by allowing them to make a self-expression. In most art programms, students are asked to create a painting that represents memory or compose a new rhythm for a piece of music. When students are taught to think creatively, it helps them in their future career. Secondly, the arts improve academic performance, students who are regularly participate in the arts does better in their academic achievement. Thirdly, it develops the students fine motor skills when they hold an instrument such as a paintbrush or oil pastel. Fourthly, while mastering a subject, students build self-confidence. Fifthly, the arts help students to develop their visual-spatial skills. Students need to know more about their sorroundings through visual than just what they can learn through text and numbers. Art education teaches students to appreciate, criticize or interpret by using the visual information. Sixthly, the arts strengthens problem solving and critical thinking skills by allowing the students to make choices and decisions. This is certainly allows them to carry over into their education and other parts of life—as this is surely a valuable skill in their adulthood. Seventhly, perseverance whereby the students will be asked to develop new skills and work through difficult projects during the career. Eightly, focus whereby when students persevere through painting, singing or learning in a play, focus is