art in the classroom

I have an art degree so I can fully appreciate art education programs in the schools. However there are some out there who want to pull programs like this out of schools because it could lower the budget. And it's just not art that could be pulled out, it's sports programs and music programs, etc. Why would any school system want to deprive students of these enriching programs to save a buck?

When studying art students are are likely to be able to describe their thoughts in greater detail, reason better with multiple critical factors, and predict findings from the information they have been given. Students without a strong art background are less likely to be able to think on those levels or to reach such levels efficiently. (source)

Here are some reasons that art education is a benefit to students in the classroom.

• It's been proven that early exposure to visual art, music, or drama promotes activity in the brain.

• Art helps children understand other subjects much more clearly—from math and science, to language arts and geography.

• Art nurtures inventiveness as it engages children in a process that aids in the development of self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation, and self-motivation.

• Participating in art activities helps children to gain the tools necessary for understanding human experience, adapting to and respecting others' ways of working and thinking, developing creative problem-solving skills, and communicating thoughts and ideas in a variety of ways.

(info found here)

Wow! That's a lot of benefits from taking art! We must keep these programs in our schools, so if you ever have an opportunity to voice your opinion locally, do it! If we take a stand for important programs like this, they will listen to us!