Why We Need To Make Art a Priority
by Lauren Wilkin
In a world where standardized tests seem to dominate, many people ask, if children aren’t being tested on a subject, what is the purpose of teaching it? To these people, I would respond: if schools continue to cut art programs, future generations will lose vital skills. The arts should be priority because they free creativity and address integral skills, like problem solving and social skills, that are not cultivated in other subjects.
Critical Thinking
Many educators in the arts have identified various skills that that the arts teach. There are common skills that seems to align with the arts the most. One of the first things art teaches is critical thinking. Critical thinking can be taught through problem solving: “All this practice problem solving develops children’s skills in reasoning and understanding,” (10 Skills Children Learn…, 2012). With every piece of art, the artist is presented with a task, whether it be a blank canvas or a lump of clay.
Commitment, Perseverance, and Dealing With the Unexpected
This task is a challenge which requires commitment. The artist’s workroom is a safe place to make mistakes: “a place to learn the power of perseverance and build self-esteem through trial and error,” (Harmon, 2017). Making errors in art allows the student to be okay with mistakes. A mis-drawn line must be adapted into the story of the picture. Commitment to the finished product drives artists to problem solve when things don’t go according to plan. This is a skill children will need: “In essence, creative thinking is an attitude that can carry over into all areas of a child’s life to enrich his or her world and ours,” (Jenkins, 14). Problem solving is a daily-used skill. Big picture thinking allows people to find innovative and new solutions. The arts are a great way to teach problem solving in a fun way; the students won’t even realize they are learning.
Social Skills
The arts also teach social skills. Lisa Phillips lists seven skills that young people can learn from the arts. One of these skills is communication:
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“The arts are a fantastic training ground for young people to learn how the subtleties of communication affect their interactions with others and more importantly how others perceive them,” (The Artistic Edge…, 96). The arts allow students to express themselves, tap into to deeper emotions and release their frustrations in a constructive way.
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When all the students in a classroom create art in different ways, they can see the similarities and differences in their classmates. One student may focus their drawing of an owl on the wise eyes, another student may draw intricate patterns in the strong wings. Observing the similarities and differences allow students to learn from each other: “Seeing others’ ideas and approaches, different from their own, can add to this self-knowledge,” (Jenkins, 17-18).
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Seeing different solutions to the same problem helps students to see different perspectives. It reinforces the idea that not all problems have only one answer. Being able to interact with peers is key to success in the adult world. Every relationship thrives with good communication skills. It is a skill every child needs to learn.
These skills, and many others, are imperative to a child’s success as an adult. We can teach students how to solve problems, or we can allow them the freedom to find their own solutions. The arts are the perfect vehicle for teaching these vital skills: “skills developed through participation in the arts are increasingly important in the workplace and therefore, key to a successful career” (10 Skills Children Learn…, 2012).
The workplace will require problem-solving and effective relationships. It will require dedication and cooperation. The arts aren’t just for a selected few. The arts are for every child: “Instilling these skills in our students will be essential to their growth as individuals and citizens of their wider community,” (Harmon, 2017). The arts must be kept in the education system. Students must be given the opportunity to pursue music, painting, drawing, dance and theater. They will be better because of it. They will be more equipped for the world beyond standardized testing.
Get your start on the road to success with a free art lesson today!
Works Cited
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10 Skills Children Learn from the Arts that Help Them Succeed in Life. The Artistic Edge, 2012, theartisticedge.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/10SkillsChildrenLearnFromTheArts2.pdf.
-
Amabile, Teresa M. Growing Up Creative: Nurturing a Lifetime of Creativity. Creative Education Foundation, 1992.
-
Evans, Joy, and Tanya Skelton. How To Teach Art To Children: Grades, 1-6. Evan-Moor, 2001.
-
Harmon, Wynita. “How Art Teachers are Helping Build the Next Generation of Leaders.” The Art of Education, July 2017, www.theartofed.com/2017/07/20/july-fostering-leadership-students-art/.
-
Hetland, Lois. Studio Thinking 2: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education. Teachers College Press, 2013.
-
Jenkins, Peggy Davison. Art for the Fun of It: A Guide for Teaching Young Children. Touchstone, 1980.
-
Phillips, Lisa. “The Art of Problem Solving.” The Artistic Edge, 22 May 2012, theartisticedge.ca/the-art-of-problem-solving/.
-
Phillips, Lisa. The Artistic Edge: 7 Skills Children Need to Succeed in an Increasingly Right Brain World. The Artistic Edge, 2012.
by Lauren Wilkin
In a world where standardized tests seem to dominate, many people ask, if children aren’t being tested on a subject, what is the purpose of teaching it? To these people, I would respond: if schools continue to cut art programs, future generations will lose vital skills. The arts should be priority because they free creativity and address integral skills, like problem solving and social skills, that are not cultivated in other subjects.
Critical Thinking
Many educators in the arts have identified various skills that that the arts teach. There are common skills that seems to align with the arts the most. One of the first things art teaches is critical thinking. Critical thinking can be taught through problem solving: “All this practice problem solving develops children’s skills in reasoning and understanding,” (10 Skills Children Learn…, 2012). With every piece of art, the artist is presented with a task, whether it be a blank canvas or a lump of clay.
Commitment, Perseverance, and Dealing With the Unexpected
This task is a challenge which requires commitment. The artist’s workroom is a safe place to make mistakes: “a place to learn the power of perseverance and build self-esteem through trial and error,” (Harmon, 2017). Making errors in art allows the student to be okay with mistakes. A mis-drawn line must be adapted into the story of the picture. Commitment to the finished product drives artists to problem solve when things don’t go according to plan. This is a skill children will need: “In essence, creative thinking is an attitude that can carry over into all areas of a child’s life to enrich his or her world and ours,” (Jenkins, 14). Problem solving is a daily-used skill. Big picture thinking allows people to find innovative and new solutions. The arts are a great way to teach problem solving in a fun way; the students won’t even realize they are learning.
Social Skills
The arts also teach social skills. Lisa Phillips lists seven skills that young people can learn from the arts. One of these skills is communication:
-
“The arts are a fantastic training ground for young people to learn how the subtleties of communication affect their interactions with others and more importantly how others perceive them,” (The Artistic Edge…, 96). The arts allow students to express themselves, tap into to deeper emotions and release their frustrations in a constructive way.
-
When all the students in a classroom create art in different ways, they can see the similarities and differences in their classmates. One student may focus their drawing of an owl on the wise eyes, another student may draw intricate patterns in the strong wings. Observing the similarities and differences allow students to learn from each other: “Seeing others’ ideas and approaches, different from their own, can add to this self-knowledge,” (Jenkins, 17-18).
-
Seeing different solutions to the same problem helps students to see different perspectives. It reinforces the idea that not all problems have only one answer. Being able to interact with peers is key to success in the adult world. Every relationship thrives with good communication skills. It is a skill every child needs to learn.
These skills, and many others, are imperative to a child’s success as an adult. We can teach students how to solve problems, or we can allow them the freedom to find their own solutions. The arts are the perfect vehicle for teaching these vital skills: “skills developed through participation in the arts are increasingly important in the workplace and therefore, key to a successful career” (10 Skills Children Learn…, 2012).
The workplace will require problem-solving and effective relationships. It will require dedication and cooperation. The arts aren’t just for a selected few. The arts are for every child: “Instilling these skills in our students will be essential to their growth as individuals and citizens of their wider community,” (Harmon, 2017). The arts must be kept in the education system. Students must be given the opportunity to pursue music, painting, drawing, dance and theater. They will be better because of it. They will be more equipped for the world beyond standardized testing.
Get your start on the road to success with a free art lesson today!
Works Cited
-
10 Skills Children Learn from the Arts that Help Them Succeed in Life. The Artistic Edge, 2012, theartisticedge.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/10SkillsChildrenLearnFromTheArts2.pdf.
-
Amabile, Teresa M. Growing Up Creative: Nurturing a Lifetime of Creativity. Creative Education Foundation, 1992.
-
Evans, Joy, and Tanya Skelton. How To Teach Art To Children: Grades, 1-6. Evan-Moor, 2001.
-
Harmon, Wynita. “How Art Teachers are Helping Build the Next Generation of Leaders.” The Art of Education, July 2017, www.theartofed.com/2017/07/20/july-fostering-leadership-students-art/.
-
Hetland, Lois. Studio Thinking 2: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education. Teachers College Press, 2013.
-
Jenkins, Peggy Davison. Art for the Fun of It: A Guide for Teaching Young Children. Touchstone, 1980.
-
Phillips, Lisa. “The Art of Problem Solving.” The Artistic Edge, 22 May 2012, theartisticedge.ca/the-art-of-problem-solving/.
-
Phillips, Lisa. The Artistic Edge: 7 Skills Children Need to Succeed in an Increasingly Right Brain World. The Artistic Edge, 2012.
by Lauren Wilkin
In a world where standardized tests seem to dominate, many people ask, if children aren’t being tested on a subject, what is the purpose of teaching it? To these people, I would respond: if schools continue to cut art programs, future generations will lose vital skills. The arts should be priority because they free creativity and address integral skills, like problem solving and social skills, that are not cultivated in other subjects.
Critical Thinking
Many educators in the arts have identified various skills that that the arts teach. There are common skills that seems to align with the arts the most. One of the first things art teaches is critical thinking. Critical thinking can be taught through problem solving: “All this practice problem solving develops children’s skills in reasoning and understanding,” (10 Skills Children Learn…, 2012). With every piece of art, the artist is presented with a task, whether it be a blank canvas or a lump of clay.
Commitment, Perseverance, and Dealing With the Unexpected
This task is a challenge which requires commitment. The artist’s workroom is a safe place to make mistakes: “a place to learn the power of perseverance and build self-esteem through trial and error,” (Harmon, 2017). Making errors in art allows the student to be okay with mistakes. A mis-drawn line must be adapted into the story of the picture. Commitment to the finished product drives artists to problem solve when things don’t go according to plan. This is a skill children will need: “In essence, creative thinking is an attitude that can carry over into all areas of a child’s life to enrich his or her world and ours,” (Jenkins, 14). Problem solving is a daily-used skill. Big picture thinking allows people to find innovative and new solutions. The arts are a great way to teach problem solving in a fun way; the students won’t even realize they are learning.
Social Skills
The arts also teach social skills. Lisa Phillips lists seven skills that young people can learn from the arts. One of these skills is communication:
-
“The arts are a fantastic training ground for young people to learn how the subtleties of communication affect their interactions with others and more importantly how others perceive them,” (The Artistic Edge…, 96). The arts allow students to express themselves, tap into to deeper emotions and release their frustrations in a constructive way.
-
When all the students in a classroom create art in different ways, they can see the similarities and differences in their classmates. One student may focus their drawing of an owl on the wise eyes, another student may draw intricate patterns in the strong wings. Observing the similarities and differences allow students to learn from each other: “Seeing others’ ideas and approaches, different from their own, can add to this self-knowledge,” (Jenkins, 17-18).
-
Seeing different solutions to the same problem helps students to see different perspectives. It reinforces the idea that not all problems have only one answer. Being able to interact with peers is key to success in the adult world. Every relationship thrives with good communication skills. It is a skill every child needs to learn.
These skills, and many others, are imperative to a child’s success as an adult. We can teach students how to solve problems, or we can allow them the freedom to find their own solutions. The arts are the perfect vehicle for teaching these vital skills: “skills developed through participation in the arts are increasingly important in the workplace and therefore, key to a successful career” (10 Skills Children Learn…, 2012).
The workplace will require problem-solving and effective relationships. It will require dedication and cooperation. The arts aren’t just for a selected few. The arts are for every child: “Instilling these skills in our students will be essential to their growth as individuals and citizens of their wider community,” (Harmon, 2017). The arts must be kept in the education system. Students must be given the opportunity to pursue music, painting, drawing, dance and theater. They will be better because of it. They will be more equipped for the world beyond standardized testing.
Get your start on the road to success with a free art lesson today!
Works Cited
-
10 Skills Children Learn from the Arts that Help Them Succeed in Life. The Artistic Edge, 2012, theartisticedge.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/10SkillsChildrenLearnFromTheArts2.pdf.
-
Amabile, Teresa M. Growing Up Creative: Nurturing a Lifetime of Creativity. Creative Education Foundation, 1992.
-
Evans, Joy, and Tanya Skelton. How To Teach Art To Children: Grades, 1-6. Evan-Moor, 2001.
-
Harmon, Wynita. “How Art Teachers are Helping Build the Next Generation of Leaders.” The Art of Education, July 2017, www.theartofed.com/2017/07/20/july-fostering-leadership-students-art/.
-
Hetland, Lois. Studio Thinking 2: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education. Teachers College Press, 2013.
-
Jenkins, Peggy Davison. Art for the Fun of It: A Guide for Teaching Young Children. Touchstone, 1980.
-
Phillips, Lisa. “The Art of Problem Solving.” The Artistic Edge, 22 May 2012, theartisticedge.ca/the-art-of-problem-solving/.
-
Phillips, Lisa. The Artistic Edge: 7 Skills Children Need to Succeed in an Increasingly Right Brain World. The Artistic Edge, 2012.
