Why teach Art?

Throughout schools today many art programs are being cut because school boards do not think that art education is as necessary and needed as are math, English and history programs. The arts," have been marginalized in public education...are treated as educational frills...and are the the first pursuits to be dispensed when resources are scarce" (Kamhi).It is this kind of thinking that is creating that may create a downward spiral of our education systems. Art is one of the most crucial aspects of our education, for as we learn and grow, art will be an every day part of our lives. Students need to have and deserve to have art programs because through those programs their lives and learning will be richer, deeper, more real, and will assist them in learning throughout their life.

If students are learning about and attend art classes they will see how useful it is in other classes and aspects of life. Art for instance can be used in and is science, math, history, physical education, technology and more. For instance, art becomes and assisted in physical education as students learn to have coordination of their fingers, hands, body, and arms. Their eyes and arms and other senses must work together as they create. There are also art forms that require real physical strength, such as creating sculptures, working with large pieces of clay, or creating a large painting. By teaching art, we can help teach our students things they will use in everyday life from problem solving strategies, to deep thinking, to opening up their imaginations and really creating something unique. Luckily, the national government has begun to recognize the importance of art in the lives of our students as well as ourselves, and has created a National Arts in Education week which will hopefully help the arts in all the ways mentioned above with our students. "With this declaration, the House is recognizing  that arts education, including the disciplines of dance, music, theater, media arts, literature, design and visual arts, is a core academic subject and an essential element..."(US). Teaching art is teaching life to students. In an article entitled, 'Why Teach Art', there is a wonderful closing list of reasons to teach art,

"WE TEACH ART

So you will be human.

So you will recognize and appreciate true beauty.

So you can communicate from the very depths of your soul.

So you will be sensitive to life and the peoples within it.

So you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world.

So you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness -

more life"(Farrell).

Farrell, Tina. "Why Teach Art?." Incredible @rt Department. Ed. Ken Rohrer. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. <http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/Files/why.htm>.

Kamhi, Michelle M. "Why Teach Art?." Aristos. Ed. Louis Torress and Michelle M. Kamhi. The Aristos Foundation, Dec. 2006. Web. 13 Sept. 2010. <http://www.aristos.org/aris-06/efland.htm>. 

" U.S. House of Representatives declares September 12-18, 2010 National Arts in Education Week ." ArtAlly. N.p., 9 Sept. 2010. Web. 14 Sept. 2010. <http://www.artally.org/index.php/art-education/national-arts-education-week-september-12-18-2010/>.