Currently,
schools all over America are faced with the challenge that inadequate funding
presents. When there is not enough money to go around, things have to be cut. When
things have to be cut, the arts are usually the first thing to go. But we need
art. Art is an important part of the educational system and should remain to be
a part of the school curriculum. It is
crucial for developing a child’s brain, helps students do better in school and
helps students find their passion and future career. We need art to remain in
schools for the student’s development and there are ways to do so.
Art tends to
be categorized a hobby and nothing more than a distraction. People who believe
this underestimate how much of an impact art has on the general welfare of a
student academically and personally. In 2009, “Edutopia” released an article
that studied the effects of art in a school system. They found that “[involvement] in the arts is associated with gains in
math, reading, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal skill. Arts
learning can also improve motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork.”
An article written by the Dana Foundation wrote that studies presented at
the 2009 neuroeducation summit indicate that practicing the arts such as dance,
music, theater, and drawing, increase the brain’s ability to ability to retain
attention and improve cognition.
Herbert
Kohl, an Oxford and Harvard alumni and author, participated in a book
collaboration called Muses Go to School.
In his section he described roles
that art would play in education. Those roles include, “[providing] focused
discipline and self-discipline through involvement with personal and group
activities with high standards taught by devoted teachers [and] integrated
personal and academic development and substantial motivation for becoming
literate” (xix). Part of a compilation made by the Katy Independent School
District added a study that explained that, “…those
in the arts curriculum were far superior in creative thinking, self-concept,
problem-solving, self-expression, risk-taking, and cooperation than those who
were [not].” There are also other studies that show signs of art reducing the
rate of high school drop-outs. For example: a study of public schools in New
York revealed that “schools with the lowest access [to the arts] also had the
highest dropout rates (Onlinecollages.net).” All of these articles agree that
art assists in the development of the child’s brain, strengthens values and
generates social and academic strengths.
Still, some people may argue that this isn’t good enough.
It is a common opinion that studying art won’t get you a well-paying career and
we should focus on science and math instead.
This opinion has managed to imprint itself on school curriculum across
America. This becomes obvious as subjects like math and science become more and
more dominant and the arts fade away. I have to disagree with this opinion. First
of all, there are hundreds of careers in artistic field. They range from cake
decorator, to art therapist, to animator/filmmaker. Being a designer alone can
lead you to the possibility of different work experiences from designing
clotheslines, to museum exhibits, to interior decorator or web designer.
Second, we should focus on the arts just as much as
subjects like math and science. In fact, some of the highest paying careers
require both technological and artistic skill. Multimedia artists and animators
have an average salary of $79,000 (Atkisson).
Some of the skills required include a portfolio to show evidence of
skill and ability to use computer programs to generate mediums of artwork. Video
game designing requires skills from a variety of academic categories. They need
to have strong communication, creative writing, theater, management, computer
programming, software design and artistic design skills. The average salary pay
of a game designer is approximately $71,000 (Atkisson). Architects need to have
the ability to problem solve complicated situations creatively and logically.
This is an ability that can be developed as a youth through practice of the
arts (as mentioned above). Architects need to be able to communicate visually.
They do this by using their drawing ability as well as using their knowledge of
spatial relationships and visual orientation. They also need a high level math
ability in order to calculate accurate distances. The average salary that an
architect receives is about $70,000. All of the careers mentioned above had an
estimated projected growth of about 15% (Atkisson).
Becoming an architect, a video game designer, a multimedia
artist, animator and many other careers command skills from different areas of
learning. If we do not have artistic classes as well as math, science and
English, then we are robbing students of skills that would allow them to
achieve greatness. We would be taking away the opportunity for students to try
a variety of new activities and find the one thing they are passionate about.
The biggest advisory to the arts today is funding. How do
schools pay for the costumes and props? How can they pay for the clay, pencils
and paint? How can they afford to purchase sheet music and repair instruments? Some
people suggest that schools should distribute the money they have more evenly
amongst the utilities, classrooms, and extra-curricular activities. This
suggestion may work for higher funded schools that simply need to adjust their
budget, but what do you do if there just isn’t enough money to go around? Solving
this problem is even more difficult for low-income schools but there are
answers.
When budgets become tight, schools could always apply for
grants. Unfortunately, grants can be a gamble. Schools would have to apply for
a grant each year. So, if a school receives a grant and makes big plans for the
next year, there is always the chance that the next grant could fall through. If
that method doesn’t work, then it becomes time for schools to take matters into
their own hands and make their own money. This means to keep a steady flow of
well-organized profiting fundraisers. Popular fundraisers include bake sales,
seasonal carnivals, vending sales at sports games, gift wrapping stations,
school wide flea market, and flower sales (White). Art itself can be used for
fundraisers. In my younger brother’s fifth grade class, they sell cards,
calendars and cook books. On the back of each product is a picture designed by
one of the students. Another idea could
be that older, more experienced artists could donate an original artwork to
sell at an auctions or raffles hosted at the school.
The arts
are key to having a good schooling experience. There are many modes of art so a
student can find the one that is right for him or her. The arts also increase
the student’s ability to learn. Music strengthens memory, drawing increases
problem solving skills and theater develops social abilities. Working on art
can allow students to interact with classmates to create new ideas. Children
are the future and these new ideas can become something that changes the world.
Having the arts in a school is hard, but I know that it’s worth it.
"Why Arts Education Is Crucial, and Who's Doing It
Best." Edutopia. Ed. Fran Smith. 28 Jan. 2009. Web. 21 Nov. 2015.
Kohl, Herbert R. "Preface: The Necessity of Art in
Public Education." The Muses Go to School: Inspiring Stories about the
Importance of Arts in Education. New York: New :, 2012
Posner, Michael, and Brenda Patoine. "Cerebrum." How
Arts Training Improves Attention and Cognition. The Dana Foundation, 14
Sept. 2009. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
Bryant, Bob. "The Importance of Fine Arts
Education." Katy Independence School District Fine Arts Division.
Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
Atkisson, Valerie. "8 Creative
Jobs That Pay Over 60K." ArtBistro. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
White, Kate. "50 Successful
School Fundraising Ideas." SignUpGenius. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
"10 Studies on the Importance of Art in
Education." OnlineColleges.net. 6 Sept. 2011. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
