In this article, I talk about how art education benefits the academic, social, and personal success of all students.
Research Proposal
October 2018
Since the beginning of time, art has played a fundamental role in human development. It is well known that when an institution is required to make budget cuts, the arts are almost always the first to go. While many people believe that an education in the arts is a luxury, studies have shown that creativity is immensely important in early childhood development. Students who participate in the arts heighten their cognitive thinking skills, allowing them to excel in other subjects such as math and science. Early exposure to the arts allows children to develop better motor skills, improve critical thinking, and develop a strong academic and cultural awareness.
From a young age, I quickly realized the world we live in is far from black and white. Often times, I found myself in a pit of confusion and curiosity, constantly questioning everything around me. I remember trying to process new information and feeling abruptly overwhelmed by the constant knowledge being thrown at me. Art gave me an outlet to process these thoughts and emotions, while simultaneously teaching me self-motivation and self-education. Last year, I received an email from ODU about an upcoming seminar, in the middle of the flyer there was a quote that stated, “art without engineering is just dreaming and engineering without art is just math.” This quote has stuck with me because it brought to my attention that art is incorporated into almost everything in life. From the clothes we wear to the roads we drive on, art is everywhere and is essential in the prosperity of modern society.
America is often referred to as “the melting pot,” and for good reason. The country is bursting with people from all walks of life, our society is filled with different nationalities, religions, and racial backgrounds. In such a blended world, it is important to understand diversity. A 2005 report by the Rand Corporation called “A Portrait of the Visual Arts,” argued that art education is more than just a creative outlet. It can actually help students connect to a larger part of the world, allowing communities to connect. By educating our youth in art, we can create a future generation that uses their differences as an advantage rather than a hindrance. Humans who can communicate with one another are less likely to be violent and more likely to solve problems. The cohesion of people from different communities could greatly benefit the progress of our world.
A study was done by Americans for the Arts in 1998 on the effects of art centered activities in institutions on youth. The study found that young people involved in the arts during after-school hours were three times more likely to win an award for school attendance and four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair. Every student is required to be educated in math however this does not mean everyone will necessarily grow up to become an engineer. Despite this, there are significant core principles of mathematics that every student carries with them the rest of their lives. Math is a universal language, it allows people to develop problem solving skills and it is all around us. On the contrary, art is not a core subject in most public school systems, meaning many students are not able to benefit from the principles of art that help us in our daily lives.
Currently, many states are working on reforms to incorporate art even further into their curriculum. Most intellectuals recognize the value of art education and over forty states have made art a requirement to graduate. This being said, it is still not anywhere close to being as highly regarded as math and science. To be educated in art means having a deeper grasp on religion, history and cultural relativism. It is the link between thought and expression. Art is not trivial, it is essential to human existence.
Below is the link to my works cited page.
https://static.wixstatic.com/ugd/25baa3_fe761048807e456c9af492c79d529451.pdf
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