The Arts in Education: Painting our Students a Brighter Future.
Josh Conway
Sharon Ebel is an art teacher who was fired from David Thoreau Elementary in Milwaukee in 2004. The other teachers are now expected to pick up the slack and incorporate art into their curriculums. This is unfair to students as well as teachers because the teachers do not have the training or the experience to teach these subjects. This same Experience is happening in many other schools, all around the country. For schools, having the arts is expensive. This is, for many opponents of arts education, the primary argument against mandatory available classes. After all Students or the schools have to spend money on instruments, paints, clay, lighting, as well as paying a teacher. These classes add to the already long school day, and if a student really wants to play an instrument, sing, dance, draw, paint, sculpt, or act, they can go find private out of school lessons. However, all schools should
no, must have arts programs such as; dance, drama, music, and visual art available to all students because they can help improve students core subjects, they encourage students to think outside the box, and they provide useful life skills.
The arts help improve on other core subjects. A study conducted by MENC , the National Association for Music Education, showed that Seniors with music education scored 37 points higher on the math SAT, and 52 points higher on the verbal SAT, thats a total of about 89 points increased. The same article stated that schools that have music programs have significantly higher graduation rates then those without (averages of 90.3% compared to 72.9%). If the school rates its program as excellent or very good then this percentage is a couple points higher. They also have a higher overall attendance average (93.3% compared to 84.9%). This article claims that in class grades can improve just from changing your mind to a creative side for a while.
The way a person thinks is improved by taking arts classes. With a school year of keyboard lessons, a 2003 CS monitor study found that the students IQ went up an average of 46 points. In another test, 45 boys were given music lessons for about a month and 45 were not. They then took a word memory test and the boys with lessons did significantly better. At the same time 40 adults took a similar test only the adults for music had to have been playing since they were at least 7. The results were that the musicians were more focused and had more efficient brain activity. The arts set a foundation for students to personally improve themselves. They also help students conquer fear with solos and increase self esteem, which always comes with success. A persons thinking may become more efficient and have a higher range if they take arts classes.
The arts provide many useful skills in life beyond those mentioned already. The arts positively affect many of the traits that are highly looked upon. In a MENC article titled The Impact of Arts on Learning a study was taken to show how other positive characteristics are enhanced, this time useful skills in life. Students in high arts schools were superior in a greater number of ways. They worked to solve problems, keeping an open mind and not rushing to one solution. They demonstrated more elaboration and originality. Also risk taking, cooperation, and expression increased. While they also had more self confidence, and were more organized with their thoughts. In a ProQuest Boston Globe article titled article entitled: Art Skills Are Life Skills Business leaders of todays world claim many skills you need are literacy and numerically. It also claims that most students graduating that year had not taken a single art credit. It then goes on to say that creativity is a much more appreciated trait to have. They also agree that arts education increases this much sought after creativity. This carries out of business as well. In most if not all lines of work, a little creativity can go a long way. Life skills are obviously improved on by the arts.
Although the arts are ready for students to benefit from at some local schools such as Norfolk Academy, and public Providence Elementary. Not all schools are so fortunate. The arts are a necessary component to every school system. Arts programs should be offered for all students, whether they take them or not, in all grades in primary and secondary school. These programs must stay available because they help students think differently, allow students other skills to increase, and may improve grades. Many people enjoy music, many like to dance, most people have acted like someone else and a lot of people create paintings and sculptures. Would it not be nice to have a chance at school to improve on these fun activities?
it is a little diferent now but thats pretty much it
