One of the reasons why there are so many performing arts colleges in London and Paris, often seen as important educational centres for theatre and dance, is that the performing arts teach us about our history and educate us in other ways. In developing a theatrical production, group performance, or any type of collaborative artistic endeavor, students practice the fine art of teamwork. There’s no doubt that the arts are fun for kids. Just like collaboration, kids in the arts learn that they are accountable for their contributions to the group. Studying the arts also helps improve academic performance, not just through creativity, but it improves learning in areas like math and science as well as the literary field. Arts education develops creativity, one of the top five skills employers prize for the 21st century. Motor Skills. Arts education helps foster a positive culture and climate in schools. It is also essential to have arts education in the school, so as to have educators to guide the students and giving then opportunities to explore different kinds of art such as visual arts, drama and music and movement. As students learn to read notes, compose music, play an instrument, memorize dance steps, create a painting, and act in a drama, they are also learning how to develop new concepts, build vocabulary and understand a new language. While mastering a subject certainly builds a student’s confidence, there is something special about participating in the arts. And certainly focus is vital for studying and learning in class as well as doing a job later in life. The arts require measurement, number manipulation, and proportional thinking, all of which foster mathematical thinking. When I was trying to learn and master the clarinet, there were many times when I became so frustrated that I wanted to quit. Lauren Martin is a Writer for Learning Liftoff. In general, art education is definitely important to students because it gives students the freedom to be themselves. The arts don’t just develop a child’s creativity—the skills they learn because of them spill over into academic achievement. This mindset will certainly matter as they grow—especially during their career where they will likely be asked to continually develop new skills and work through difficult projects. A liberal arts education can be very frustrating. This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Reasons Why Education is Important: It gives an opportunity to learn different languages other than the mother tongue and the ability to survive anywhere in the entire world. Johnny Appleseed Day Honors Real Man, Not Myth, Getting Kids Excited About Writing Through NaNoWri…, The Moving Story of How a Teacher Inspired Maya Angelou to Speak, Make Homemade Music with These 6 DIY Instruments, 10 Key Characteristics You Need to Teach Your Child, The 10 Best Educational YouTube Channels for Kids. But I didn’t. Students also learn patterns (musical rhythms and dance patterns), spatial and geometric relationships (visual art patterns) and three dimensional skills (making clay models). It allows us to gain historical perspective and understanding. I spoke with my friend Dr. Mitchell B. Reiss, the President of Washington College, about the humanities and arts as an essential part of a college curriculum. 09/09/2014 11:07 am ET Updated Nov 09, 2014 A number of my summer conversations have centered around the importance of the arts and the humanities. Through the arts, children learn to observe, interpret, see different perspectives, analyze, and synthesize. Diving into those finger paints and making a beautiful picture to hang on the fridge is awesome. When schools integrate the arts across the curriculum, disciplinary referrals decrease while effectiveness of instruction and teachers’ ability to meet the needs of all students increase. By: Andrea Mulder-Slater. Importance of Arts in Education. Arts education helps foster a positive culture and climate in schools. Learning how to make choices and decisions will certainly carry over into their education and other parts of life—as this is certainly a valuable skill in adulthood. Art education also fosters collaboration and group learning. By offering art education in the school system, all children get a chance to stimulate their imaginations, as well as their cognitive and problem-solving skills. Art is important in young children’s education as it is one of the ways to help children to express themselves through different channels such as dance, drama and visual arts. The Value and Importance of the Arts and the Humanities in Education and Life. Over the past several years, we’ve all seen the trend of schools cutting the arts from their curriculum. It allows them to think of new ideas, and better ways to get something done. Perseverance. Students who study the arts, especially music, outperform their non-arts peers on mathematics assessments. Decision Making. Students who participate in the arts develop leadership skills, including decision-making, strategy building, planning and reflection. Visual Learning. It's unavoidable. Works of art provide a visual context for learning about historical periods. Art-making allows students to experience what it feels like to be active members of a community and to work as a team to determine and achieve common goals. Music, art, theater—gone for so many. They’ve been proven to boost a child’s self-image. The art in schools enrich, improve, and inspire the students. Not only does it enrich our souls, but it also adds real, tangible value to almost every aspect of our society. Here are the top ten ways that the arts help kids learn and develop important characteristics they will need as adults: 1. Liberal arts education provides multiple viewpoints and allows for educational opportunities that cannot be obtained from trade or technical schools. Collaboration: Working together for a common purpose teaches children that their contribution is important, which is perfect for the collaborative nature of the arts. The arts provide many opportunities for students to demonstrate their skills through authentic performance. Collaboration. Jaclyn Graybill. The arts is hands-on, has immediate rewards, focuses on positive achievements, develops concrete products and fosters collaboration. As the Washington Post says: In an arts program, your child will be asked to recite a monologue in six different ways, create a painting that represents a memory, or compose a new rhythm to enhance a piece of music. The … 1. This may seem like a no-brainer, but the arts allow kids to express themselves better than math or science. Arts integrated math instruction also facilitates mastery of computation and estimation skills, and challenging concepts like fractions. Learning a musical instrument, creating a painting, learning to dance, or singing in a chorus teaches that taking small steps, practicing to improve, being persistent, and being patient are important for children’s growth and improvement. Pupils study discrete arts subjects, but also regularly use the arts to support learning across the core subjects – be it through sculpting a volcano in geography and making it erupt in science, through to recreating life in the trenches by building a trench and then acting out the part of the suffering soldiers in history lessons. Students are much more likely to care about their studies if the material is readily accessible to them. According to Eisner, an arts education “promotes the idea that there is more than one solution to a problem, or more than one answer to a question.” In reality, there is almost always more than one solution to a problem, and multiple-choice standardized tests fail to recognize that. Arts – the simplest building block for kids. If they drop the ball or mess up, they realize that it’s important to take responsibility for what they did. The importance of STEAM—science, technology, engineering, art and math—education is often mentioned in the world of workforce development, but how often do we hear specifically about the A? I know from personal experience that the arts can be challenging. Art allows us to appreciate different periods in history and their impact and significance in our world. But the arts also help kids develop on many fundamental levels. Musician David Byrne and Neil discuss the vital importance of arts education. Improved Academic Performance. Kids learn that their contribution to the group is integral to its success—even if they don’t have the solo or lead role. Music, painting, drama, and dance help literature come alive. Why Arts Education Is So Important (And So Underrated) Now, more than ever, it is increasingly vital to understand the necessity of arts education and become an advocate. Dr. Kerry Freedman, Head of Art and Design Education at Northern Illinois University says, Children need to know more about the world than just what they can learn through text and numbers. It speaks a universal language that anyone can understand and learn. A 2005 report by the Rand Corporation about the visual arts argues that the intrinsic pleasures and stimulation of the art experience do more than sweeten an individual's life -- according to the report, they \"can connect people more deeply to the world and open them to new ways of seeing,\" creating the foundation to forg… Jan 30, 2017. These classes provide a wonderful environment for fostering creativity, which is an important skill to have in a rapidly changing world. The arts strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills. Performing arts students, for example, show greater flexibility and adaptability in thinking than their peers. How should I play this character? Not only do K12 online public schools offer their students art and music courses, K12 has individual art classes for purchase. 3. As one of the creators of KinderArt.com, I often receive letters from teachers who work in public school systems where the arts are not a priority. The arts foster higher levels of thinking that carry over to learning other academic subjects as well as to life outside of school. Maybe the school authorities as well as parents need to understand why is art education important. Is your student looking to become more involved in the arts? Students learn habits, behaviors and attitudes that are necessary for success in any field of endeavor. Eliminating the arts programs … How do I express this feeling through my dance? Simple things like holding a paintbrush and scribbling with a crayon are an important element to developing a child’s fine motor skills. Graphic designs and drawings, such as those made by inventors and engineers, complement learning about scientific and technological principles and innovations. The arts inspire learning and help make pre-existing curriculum and traditional subjects more approachable for the greatest amount of students. 7. Read more on PBS KIDS for Parents. Over the past several years, we’ve all seen the trend of schools cutting the arts from their curriculum. PBS says, “A report by Americans for the Arts states that young people who participate regularly in the arts (three hours a day on three days each week through one full year) are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, to participate in a math and science fair or to win an award for writing an essay or poem than children who do not participate.”. this website by typing and pressing enter. Children learn positive habits, behaviors and attitudes. In a world where students must frequently wade through a sea of information to determine which facts are trustworthy and relevant to a particular topic, critical thinking skills are key to college readiness and lifelong learning. He … The self esteem, confidence and pride that comes from art in education is truly incredible and each child should be able to experience that. As you persevere through painting or singing or learning a part in a play, focus is imperative. Simple creative activities are some of the building blocks of childhood development and help prepare your child for life! The majority of people should know by now that art is good for the brain, but it is so much more than that. 9. Pupils learn more when they are enjoying their lessons – so listening to them recreate the noises of the rainfore… Previously, she has written for nonprofits as well as marketing agencies. It helps to protect ourselves from the other harmful events and helps you keep educating of current dangers, diseases and ways to face or prevent them. Art education allows students to express themselves and think outside of the box. Often times, it brings people and children together, helping them learn from, and aid each other as they persevere towards creating something. Children need not to be afraid making mistakes as art promotes creativity, imagination and expressions. Education guides you to develop as good citizens of the society. What Is the Importance of Fine Arts in a Public High School Education? If children have practice thinking creatively, it will come naturally to them now and in their future career. Below are 5 reasons why the arts are vital to an effective and comprehensive education. The power of the arts is in its wondrous ability to give us joy, help us understand tragedy, promote empathy and make the written word come alive. History and education and Performing Arts. Belmont University. Especially for young kids, drawing, painting, and sculpting in art class help develop visual-spatial skills. Focus. Creativity. Why is art important? This applies mostly to younger kids who do art or play an instrument. As they work together, they learn to understand differences and diversity and realize the ways that teamwork contributes to a great performance. As they improve and see their own progress, their self-confidence will continue to grow. A fine arts education — including music, theater, drawing, painting, or sculpture — whether in practice or theory, has been a part of any well-rounded curriculum for decades — but that may be changing. 1576 Jaclyn Graybill The arts are everywhere. With a B.A. When schools integrate the arts across the curriculum, disciplinary referrals decrease while … The arts enable children to grow in confidence and learn how to think positively about themselves and learning. It forces students to see multiple viewpoints and continually challenge their own. Here are five BIG reasons why art and arts education are more important now than ever 1) Art Education Benefits Students… ALL Students. A report by Americans for the Arts states that young people who participate regularly in the arts (three hours a day for three days a week) are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, to participate in a math and science fair or to win an award for writing an essay or poem than children who do not participate. 2. After, they have to think through how they are going to make their imagined creations real. You’ve probably heard that arts education is beneficial to students, but did you know that it benefits all students, even the ones who aren’t particularly artsy? Those who have studied learning processes throughout the ages, beginning with Plato, have emphasized the importance of the arts in the education process. Many schools today are cutting back or eliminating their art programs due to budget constraints. In the arts, students learn to articulate their intentions, receive and offer constructive criticism and listen actively to others’ ideas. Why is art important in schools? The arts teach creative and innovative thinking. The arts … 10 Reasons Why Arts in Education Is so Important for Kids by Lauren Martin 1 Comment Books and the Arts. Students receiving an arts-rich education perform better on assessments of creativity than do students receiving little or no arts education. Art has the ability to transport us to a different time and place. Academic Benefits of Arts Education As we’ve seen, an educational program that incorporates the arts can increase students’ performance in other subjects – so it’s no surprise that multiple studies have linked involvement in the arts to improved overall academic performance and … America’s global structure, culture of innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit depends on the strength of a world-class education. Arts classes are a niche for a few talented masterminds. Students gain confidence as they try to accomplish things that do not come easily. By also teaching students how to live and work together, the arts contribute to making schools safer and more peaceful learning environments. 10. Acknowledging that problems can be multifaceted and being able to attempt answers no matter how … They must share responsibility and compromise to achieve their common goal. Accountability. Confidence. Many of the arts such as band, choir, and theater require kids to work together. She's covered environmental issues, women's rights, world poverty, and animal rights. Arts education helps make learning matter to students by giving them a medium to connect new knowledge to personal experiences and express what they have learned to others. Arts and cultural learning is more important than ever for the health of our communities and our society Creativity is essential in a global economy that needs a workforce that is … Imagine classes in which students create original artwork filled with color that displays a creative use of space, developing their own rhythms, or writing and producing their own plays. Every young person deserves a complete and competitive education that includes the arts. Around age four, children may be able to draw a square and begin cutting straight lines with scissors. Music, art, theater—gone for so many. Copyright © 2021 Stride, Inc. All rights reserved. 4. For more information on K12  and our programs that encourage student involvement in the arts, you can contact our enrollment team at 877.895.1754 or request to receive more information online. in Broadcast Journalism from Ithaca College, Lauren enjoys interviewing families about their experiences with online education. That is poetry when it comes to answering a question like why is art education important? Subscribe so you don't miss any future blog entries. They are a part of the cultural heritage of every American. Involvement in the arts is associated with gains in math, reading, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal skill. Learning an artistic discipline helps young people develop character. Reasons to support the argument for arts in the classroom. Mistakes are a part of life, and learning to accept them, fix them, and move on will serve kids well as they grow older. According to the National Institutes of Health, developmental milestones around age three should include drawing a circle and beginning to use safety scissors. Education in the arts is an integral part of the development of each human being. Arts learning can also improve motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork. 6. Art education teaches students how to interpret, criticize, and use visual information, and how to make choices based on it. Getting up on a stage and singing gives kids a chance to step outside their comfort zone. Back to School, Blog. Acting in a play is exhilarating. Still, it is seen that when it comes to cost cutting, arts and crafts programs are the first things that are discontinued in schools. Importance of art education in the development of a child’s overall personality and skills is undeniable. Did you enjoy this post? Students can examine conflict, power, emotion, and life itself. The arts teach young people about beauty, proportion, and grace. Dance, music and theater programs may make frequent appearances on school budget-cut lists, but eliminating the performing arts from education could have costly effects for students. By working collaboratively on a project, students learn to communicate more effectively, compromise when necessary, and work hard even if their role may … Art Education, Why is it Important? There’s no doubt that the arts are fun for kids. Where have the arts in education gone? The Stride word mark, logo and other marks referenced herein are trademarks of Stride, Inc. and its subsidiaries, and other company names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. These problem-solving skills enable them to think creatively in other situations, which can boost their academic results. Here are five big reasons why art and arts education are more important … Education Week Commentary asked leading educators and advocates to discuss the arts in K-12 education. Arts education refers to education in the disciplines of music, dance, theatre and visual arts and there is ample evidence that an arts education improves performance in other areas. Sufficient data exists to overwhelmingly support the belief that study and participation in the fine arts is a key component in improving learning throughout all academic areas. It also improves accountability, … Where have the arts in education gone? They also prepare to use these skills effectively by developing a strong sense of identity and confidence in their ability to affect the world around them in meaningful ways. Arts-related activities are important for so much more than just keeping your child busy or relaxed. Arts education helps make learning matter to students by giving them a medium to connect new knowledge to personal experiences and express what they have learned to others. 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