arguments against art programs in schools
And so they do, making math and science the priority to fill the ranks of future bean-counters and pencil pushers. We, and many others, have argued strongly that governments need to go beyond rhetorical support for school music, and start providing schools tangible support to provide it. Since the Reagan administration created policies that led to large decreases in funding to the National Endowment for the Arts as late as 1997, the year in which the civil-rights-inspired Expansion Arts Program was discontinued, the result has been that fewer artists are confronting issues that challenge the status quo. By and large these dont do better in life, and are often a lot more cynical and depressed. I just finished it and hope to share it with you very soon. Technically correct, however, doesnt necessarily mean creativeor even interesting. A scientific study says that students with testing anxiety or dyslexia are often relieved during tests or quizzes by doodling on the side or on a secret sheet of paper because it helps get out whatever it is that theyre thinking about. Many of those Masters, however, were on the cutting edgethe avante garde of their day. And they cannot be assessed on a standardized test. Arts education gives a foundation for creativity. And not boring. The argument against such programs is that evidence from evaluation research suggests that they are ineffective, inefficient, not universally acceptable, and of questionable safety. ), due to budget cuts and based upon state/national academic priorities that are more focused on math and English student achievement. Great posts! I took additional STEM training this past summer (STEM because my district and admin is years behind in recognizing the art component as valuable) and the instructor said that I was already advanced, was already doing this in my classroom, and sort of ignored me during her training. It is important for people to have a source of recreation in their lives; which, of course, doesnt necessarily need to be an art of any kind, but if someone has been trained in a certain art, that could, at the very least, serve as an impressive addition to a resume. The success can be attributed to a number of factors, such as the fact that students with lower GPAs may not be at liberty to take more art classes. Yet when I got my first serious job no a child's minimum wage job. Drawing is a skill that can be taught to anyone; assuming its something that people just learn on their own with practice is like assuming a surgeon can show up in the operating theatre without having gone to med school. That is vital. The importance of art education does not lie in its ability to raise test scores. Yes, creativity should be taught in schools. It seems you are talking about teaching art as a visual language not just as self-expression, but as a way of communicating ideas, thoughts and emotions. And it wasnt too long before 8 year-old KD ran excitedly to me and said shed been just fiddling around with a shiny piece of tinsel in the light when she made a discovery. Im proud to say my science students were the best art students in the school. Art is a right of life. The study of art history also helps highlight the issues of the past and the present. Its the same here in Germany. The authors of the LEGO FoundationsCulture of Creativityreport write, cultures are made by humans, but culture also significantly shapes young children, because the human race is amazingly adaptive, especially in the critical young years. It is precisely because the young human is so amazingly adaptive that finding ways to infuse the arts into the daily life of the classroom may be the greatest subversive tool we have to combat the commercialized, controlled, and combative culture that will otherwise shape our children. Often, though, it can be quite the opposite, as anti-art education proponents at least acknowledge or support the arts but not in schools. A recent Europe-wide study of 5,000 13- to 16-year-olds found that drama in schools significantly increases teenagers' capacity to communicate and to learn, to relate to each other and to. Its been my desire for a long time to see art integrated with other subjects. We live inan increasingly global world. Classroom debates help students learn through friendly competition, examine controversial topics and "strengthen skills in the areas of leadership, interpersonal influence, teambuilding, group problem solving, and oral presentation" (Leuser, n.d., para. the policies are so narrow minded that my 10 year old is expected to know what a subordinating conjunction is and will get marks for this in her end of primary school tests but she will NOT GET A SINGLE MARK FOR CREATIVITY IN ANY TEST honestly when did you last use the expression subordinating conjunction. . If we want to build a better world, we should provide the best art education. Elements and principles are very important to helping people communicate concepts. Is there such a curriculum? During and After Christmas, All Saints' Episcopal Church - Glen Rock, NJ. Because it is only when our youngest citizens practice knowing how to express such freedoms in the company of others who have the right to do the same, that our culture will evolve to one that can tolerate the uncertainty inherent in diversitya culture that is courageous about addressing the problems that come with trying to thrive as an individual in the midst of a thriving, vibrant and loving societythe one that we made together. There are two wonderful books that you might appreciate: Creative Confidence and Growth Mindset. I have taught K-12 and college level art as well as college level rhetoric and composition and there is a great deal of overlap between the two as well as many other interdisciplinary connections. This satisfies the systems being put in place while not starving students of skills needing in life. I take no issue with the fact that the classes are offered, and even take a number myself, and I am not even advocating for their removal. The 'budget crisis' came against the backdrop of the decade-long emphasis on [] It is the perfect storm. Music is needed in all schools! Just because there are teachers that arent doing those things well and there is older styles of teaching we are phasing out of, does NOT mean that this is how it should or will be in the future. While it is true that not everyone is an artist at heart, arts electives allow students to take a break from the standardized testing, usually without taking a break from the rigor. Thats where those pinch pots and those still-lives come in (and the art history and the aesthetics and the criticism). Meet new people. Ashoka US Office How many of us have changed college majors, if not several times? Art is not necessary for any . These habits develop naturally when engaging in art-making. Too many wrong judgements in your article to address. Arts education is needed as an impetus for change, challenging old perspectives from fresh angles of vision, or offering original interpretations of familiar ideas. 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 102, Unit #313 Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about I have very creative daughter in middle school and can only hope that our school system listens to what you have to say. Some people, particularly parents and religious groups, take issue with comprehensive sex ed because they believe it goes against their cultural or religious values, and think that it can have a corrupting influence on kids. What they should be teaching is how to draw on sketchbook sized paper with a pen or small brush and also working digitally on a tablet. Sure, STEM may be valuable today, but who knows? it makes life not as boring. Recently, the elementary band program was cut from my former school district. Sometimes, students (particularly high schoolers) need a space and a time to forget that they are stressed about the next big exam or project. When you think of all of the problems in Society, how much better would things be, if only: Ethics; Logic and Creative Thinking were emphasized a bit more? By cutting art programs, you are limiting the future job options for children. Thats my two cents. Having students simply draw 100 pictures of solving world problems? The pinch pots and the drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture basic skills are invaluable in and of themselves, AND they are invaluable for the reasons that Danny speaks of. All education! We have the usual pressures to help our kids perform well in maths and literacy. I spent 27 years of my career doing algebra for people who never learned how to figure things out. So, art is not just important; it is the fundamental principal of who we are as a species. So teaching creativity, in whatever form, would be an improvement. Due to the benefits such as increased cognitive ability, team building, enhanced educational enrichment and multiple perspective thinking and learning outweighing the consequences the advocates for. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'theartbay_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-theartbay_com-medrectangle-3-0');If you love art, try to learn about it. Reasons Why Art Education Is Not Important, Sanae Hayashi on Promoting the NYC Volume Lash Cup, Interview: Composer Shiyu Chen Talks Chinese vs. Due to the fact that fine arts subjects and programs heavily impact a students creativity, they reduce student dropout rates, raise student attendance, teach students to find inspiration deep within themselves, and produce a more prepared citizen for the workplace. They are only being instructed on this false idea of creativity. Im not trying to make this a pity story or anything, but just making the point that without art class I probably wouldve gone into really bad depression, fail classes, or worse. I didnt have to memorize stuff and regurgitate it. But it may not withstand a tech-hungry economy. A decade ago, the No Child Left Behind and Common Core programs prioritizedscience and math over other subjects. Period. We are all well aware that school is very stressful, and having some time to relax while being productive and creative. If you do not appreciate it, it is your fault. Commercial culture has functioned as a sleight of hand, obscuring the distinction between creator and consumer, seducing us into an acceptance of conformity and loss of identity, and handing us the politics of the day. It is not music that is wrong; it is people who have never heard of music who do not see the inherent beauty in it. I teach elementary art and you just described my philosophy. Did that give you chills? HERES THE QUESTION WE SHOULD ALL BE ASKING: What does art offer its students that the other subjects dont? Although, I think for music, its a lot harder to find a community ensemble. I grew up in Philadelphia in the 90s and I had art in first grade and then it was cut. And by the way, I always bring my sketchbooks and tell them anyone can do it, theres no magic here. Thats also a great option. Art is about showing the world through your perspective and interpreting it. Architectural drawings geometry magnified, etc. This is exactly how I feel too. It is hard enough to deal with my monkey, sometimes.. And when reflecting about art-making through artist statements, students are further developing theseskills. Ok. You can scale up size of object, u can use a grid to compare what you see to what u think u see. How can we help people understand why art education is important? Its always best to follow your own drummerbut with passion. How can we make this happen? Hirsch's Cultural Literacy and subsequent works is that mature language comprehension rests on a body of knowledge common among writers and readers, speakers and listeners, who are broadly fluent in their shared histories and heritages, including the arts. How will they pay for art supplies? We have so many wonderful tools that put the power of creation in our hands and we use them every day. A work in progress. During the presentation of one of my papers I had one of those aha moments and she saw it. Beautifully said, Danny! Art is a vital part of culture and is a means of expression that speaks to our emotions and imaginations. If art educations only importance were to increase scores in other subjects, then why notjust cut artentirely? Art is art. Imagine if Creativity became a part of our core education. It is important for our students to leave school with a broad understanding of the world and its cultures. In fact, in college, Philosophy is one of the least emphasized areas of study. Offend that is not do something that includes art. ART Teachers are STILL expected to reach all grade level benchmarks within the new allotted time frame. Rama Hughes wrote a wise and perceptive letter in opposition to Danny Gregory, which helped shape my position on the topic at hand. ..and Im only in my 3rd year! Therefore, teachers on a year-round system end up with four periods of review instead of just one at a new school year. You must be logged-in in order to download this resource. The problem is in the Art Program. Your ideas are exactly what I am trying to change . And so should art. The subject becomes particularly prevalent in areas where public schools are not making the grade, but has also been seen in districts where the public schools are performing well. Wed teach creative process, how to come up with ideas, how to find inspiration, how to steal from the greats. Its also not a freakshow of self-indulgent divas and losers. A big problem with art education is that decades ago it fell victim to one of these over-simplifications: Jackson Pollack proved that skill doesnt matter any more. Nationally, the opposition to art education pushes for the addition of engineering and computer science classes in schools, in the place of art classes. In 2010, a Sacramento school system passed a bill that replaced art in schools with career training programs for students. Before standardised testing, I had my students do research on a self chosen/generated, BIG question based on whatever unit we were studying. Nonetheless, artseducation has been gutted in American public schools. I feel like I get half way then get blocked. Make friends with other artists. According to EdChoice, in the 2018-2019 school year, 18 states and DC had one or more voucher programs: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine . This doesnt translate to the modern world. If the classes are considered essential due to their positive impact on grades, then perhaps that time spent on art should just be allocated to other courses or more free time that allow students to manage their workload in a better way. Arts such as music improve math and science skills due to the different patterns that occur within each song, as well as the presence of numbered beats that allows students to conceptualize numbers in a completely different way. It belongs in the science lab and the math class and in every other room in the school. Ultimately, even though anti-art proponents work to remove art from schools, often the economy has a more substantial impact on art education. Although the anti-art stance is not having a large impact on the prevalence of art in schools, it is obvious that national and state debt is having a gigantic impact. Why should students who are disinterested in the arts be forced to take an art course simply so they can acquire the credits? Immediately, we need to call the United States Department of Education and tell them that standardized tests should be kept in schools. Our country nedds a creative class in order in compete within this new global market. We must remember what is actually necessary in education, which is to prepare them for success and prosperity in the next step of their lives. A clear-eyed assessment would make the arts central to education. Because weve got to concern ourselves with a Common Core, right? I love this idea. Heres a great quote from an article on creativity in Psychology today As a student I would really dislike the thought of not being able to do anything but core classes and spend so much time away from home in a place where kids are being brain washed into thinking like everyone else. As a high school student, I know that fine arts courses teach students more than just skills specific to that one field, like how to connect with something and even how to better ones communication skills. Why are we so stupidly believing everything said about what is or is not needed in schools. Instead of teaching kids to paint bowls of fruit with tempera, wed show them how to communicate aconceptthrough a sketch, how to explore the world in a sketchbook, how to generate ideas, how to solve real problems. We all know the value of art for our students. The Issue: Arts Education. With this compromise students that have the talent for art can still continue to deepen their knowledge but students that would get discouraged from a young age with the usual art classes now get the mental skills of creativity but without feeling that they are talentless in art. However, the point about art not helping other classes doesnt make sense. 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