Wow! Many of the projects you list above serve as a foundation for the type of creative education that you propose. The process of analyzing and creating art challenges students to develop these skills. Lets take the art out of art education.. He already has the perfect foundation for teaching other people about art. Its the same here in Germany. I am about to graduate college with a music education degree and everything you said is already included in art/music education. Its the ARTs that propel Mathematicians, Engineers and Scientists to be MORE creative in their problem-solving. LOL School boards must analyze very carefully the long-term ramifications of . United States. Washington, DC 20009 Did that give you chills? According to EdChoice, in the 2018-2019 school year, 18 states and DC had one or more voucher programs: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine . Schools are taking away all our supposed break time and filling it up with homework and other assignments. The value of art classes in fostering a child's motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork cannot be overstated. Youd think with it being 2016, the system would recognize the value of all types of learning. You do not have to wait your turn to become an artist, period. I think creativity classes are an awesome idea, just maybe mix that into science classes rather than teaching them what the mitochondria of the cell is. For an artist, art is not a person. Regardless of my connection to it, this is a really great post. Art teachers know, when we grid, measure, and drawwe use geometry. I dont know what schools you visited, but Ive seen up close the amazing, thoughtful, skillful, interdisciplinary and socially involved work that youth (many from low income, disenfranchised backgrounds) at our local arts center do. The same problem is occurring in schools nationwide. not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its I liken his ideas to throwing a student into an engineering project without having had the years of math and science necessary to be able to solve those problems. Critical thinking and problem-solving are alive and well in the art room. The argument for reducing arts programs and classes from the school system is that it will divert students' attention away from core subjects. I just finished it and hope to share it with you very soon. Arts programs are being stripped from schools, especially schools serving our most vulnerable neighborhoods, because those schools are choosing, in response to a variety of policy decisions, to spend more time on subjects more likely to raise scores on standardized tests. There are many examples of valuable skills taught in art. How do you make the best decision when there are no correct decisions? painting and drawing, could take specialized art classes in graphic design, fashion, jewelry, etc. Recently, the elementary band program was cut from my former school district. The arguments presented in the conversation are common points of discussion within the art community regarding the use of AI in art. Agreed!!! This takes nothing away from those students that have a genuine interest in the arts, but I believe that students, especially those who are involved with extracurriculars such as sports and clubs, would benefit exponentially from more time to get their work done. If you do not have an AOE account, create one now. The thing is, these arguments miss the point. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption Honestly and sadly, I didnt know how to think and yet when I gave her what she asked for those were the best grades I earned. Creativity and problem solving are one of the biggest gaps, in my opinion, that we have in the workforce today. What do you know about an abundant art education curriculum? Classroom debates help students learn through friendly competition, examine controversial topics and "strengthen skills in the areas of leadership, interpersonal influence, teambuilding, group problem solving, and oral presentation" (Leuser, n.d., para. Whew! California Proposition 28, the Art and Music K-12 Education Funding Initiative, was on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 8, 2022. This is a brilliant concept that needs to be set into motion. I made some similar points as yours in my post recent Open Letter post. The creative process involved in producing art is integral to learning. Creativity is a far better skill to teach! Cant we teach the creative mindset ( my approach to students being more creative) in all subjects, including ART!? If not, how can you break it down to separate classes? Number 14. Only one problem to this, creativity is not a skill that everyone has. They dont really need much encouragement or instruction. It is the perfect storm. Until we stop using the crutches of math scores and such, well never give it equal standing. The Arts Are Being Squeezed Out Of Schools. When we write about artwe strengthen these skills. I am a big advocate for learning about our current technology such as 3D pringing, and as an art teacher, I go to take classes to learn about this to share with my students. Art is not necessary. Sure there are lots of people taking traditional art classes and Im not against having them in schools. Too many kids think I will never use this information in real life so why should I learn it? There will be no way of fooling them into believing that the stirrings in their hearts are unimportant. And David Coleman, the architect of Common Core, is telling the children down the street at the neighborhood public school that people dont really give a **** about what you feel or what you think, its long past time to consider the implications of such a serious threat to our democracy. This then creates more brain cells and snapses to the other side of brain. Music education in schools is very important and is proven to have many benefits. Then comes the privatizers, confusing the issues. And how to enhance photos, etc. A work in progress. Some only take a class in the fine arts department in order to earn an easy A, but these classes should not be treated like that is their only purpose in an educational system. This article has upset me greatly, and the thought that so many people agree is disturbing. Yes,I know that there are high-school video classes and art computer labs, but they need to be turned into engines for creativity and usefulness, not abstract, high falutin artsiness based on some 1970s concepts of self-expression. We've developed more and more complex techniques of storing and analyzing this information, with the inevitable conclusion of creating more . Dudley Cocke of Roadside Theater writes, Most problematically, without federal support national conversations about culture policy began to evaporate, and in the void nonprofits hunkered down to fight for their own. In our public schools and in our non-profit organizations, fewer people are playing, sharing, making and thinking. I dont care for this article. [MAIL ONLY ADDRESS] Creativity is about helping to solve the worlds manyproblems. Without practice in the arts, we have less ability to reflect on our experience, to ask good questions, to express our perspective, to act on our feelings, to develop a community that might resist the status quo. More than 75% want to see more "critical thinking, complex problem solving, written and oral communication, and applied knowledge in real-world settings.". Yes it is 100% about creative thinking and making, but not in the service of a single measurable market-goal. Evidence that links art education to academic success is limited, and is a prime example of the difference between causation and correlation. Excellent essay! I heartily agree with your premise that creative problem-solving is more important than art techniques. These adequacy lawsuits, the effects of which have spilled over into state legislatures, are yet another example of the disconnect between words and . You think about your thinking and you feel and you feel and you thinkit goes back and forth like the reflection in a mirror. The arts are valuable. As economic disparities have grown, creative disparities have grown alongside them. Creativity, growth mindset, self-expression, problem solving, design thinking, perseverance, they all belong in every class room. Working as an art teacher does not make you a bad artist. Because we've got to concern ourselves with a Common Core, right? Fine arts in schools are vital to the students demonstration of creativity because they are a way of expressing individuality in the things they do. That matters farmore than football team and standardized test scores. We must learn to speak the language of outsiders, who believe what is important can be measured, tested, and rewarded. In recent years, many school districts have had to make the difficult choice to cut art programs (drama, music, visual arts, photography, etc. Im so glad you are getting the message out to others. Like inBuddy and Earl,[Buddy] thought about his feelings and he felt his feelings of being friends. What about price cuts for the districts that remove the art subject? A science class most likely wont help a student do better in English. Wed teach creative process, how to come up with ideas, how to find inspiration, how to steal from the greats. Art is an elitistluxury that hard-nosed bureaucrats know they can cut with impunity. It has been observed in studies that self-expression can help deal with different health concerns and develop personal insights. A study by the College Board showed that students who took four years of art scored 91 points better on the SAT exams. As I stated recently: A great disservice is done when ART is taken away from the public school systems. Commercial culture has functioned as a sleight of hand, obscuring the distinction between creator and consumer, seducing us into an acceptance of conformity and loss of identity, and handing us the politics of the day. They practice influencing the culture of their classroom community with their ideas and feelings and questions and contributions. The basis of the case against art education is simple. Just because people learn about art through books and websites, it does not mean that people cannot experience art. In Glen Rock High School, a student is required to take a certain number of art classes, which can be taking valuable time away from other, more enriching courses, or option time which can be extremely beneficial to those taking a high number of AP or Honors courses. If you are an artist, then you are creating the art, and that is all you should concern yourself with. And they cannot be assessed on a standardized test. Art is not necessary. The culture of high-stakes testing has increased over the last decade. (Two dollars? I love it! I spent 27 years of my career doing algebra for people who never learned how to figure things out. Author Daniel Pink in his book A Whole New Mind proposes that the future of global business belongs to the right-brainers. You take for granted that students even come with the skills to pick up a pencil and make a circle on their paperIf they cant draw, or are never given that exposure to focus on simple technical art skills, where else will this be taught? Its the ARTs that propel Mathematicians, Engineers and Scientists to be MORE creative in their problem-solving. The authors of the LEGO FoundationsCulture of Creativityreport write, cultures are made by humans, but culture also significantly shapes young children, because the human race is amazingly adaptive, especially in the critical young years. It is precisely because the young human is so amazingly adaptive that finding ways to infuse the arts into the daily life of the classroom may be the greatest subversive tool we have to combat the commercialized, controlled, and combative culture that will otherwise shape our children. I grew up in Philadelphia in the 90s and I had art in first grade and then it was cut. That is - it tries to conserve what it has. Its just to say that I can choose to keep the door open. Arts programs were the first victims. Imagine that you are a parent and, due to funding cuts, you have to choose whether your child will learn art or math in school. Most of us go on to graduate school. It's not an argument against the pleasure of art which is a great solace to many, because it's unwise to discard a pleasure when you have no alternative. What experiences and environments can adults design to sustain and extend it? Art teaches students to step out of their comfort zones and explore new horizons in self-expression and creativity, which in turn, will allow for greater advancements in society. And I think what you wrote here is the answer to yesterdays class on why more men dont take art classes. You should not care if other people learn about art or do not. Finding qualified individuals who can think their way out of a paper bag is not overrated. Because when we frame our argument only around test scores, it opens the door to this bleak option. But, no one seems to see itinstead, its fluff..its an elective and doesnt count blah blah blah! It does not, and never will, have one-to-one relationships with any person. And although I havent taught much at this term, I know my class have learned a lot and expressed themselves this term. (Source: ChatGPT3.5) As you sayif we squash the desire to learn and create out if our youth, they will just become little automated cogs and not the brilliant problem solvers of tomorrow. Science? Having students simply draw 100 pictures of solving world problems? [] students with the creativity to employ in other areas like STEM to solve world issues. But as Art Educators we have been teaching these concepts for years: it seems the Educational Community has caught up with us after all this time. Art is a valuable commodity. Often, though, it can be quite the opposite, as anti-art education proponents at least acknowledge or support the arts but not in schools. I dont need to be an artist to offer children use of the materials of the arts as tools for thinking. Elements and principles are very important to helping people communicate concepts. I know so many lovely little ones who tell me that they want to be artists or painters when they grow up and i have never once had a child tell me that they want to be a doctor or lawyer when they grow up. Get a chance to create art. I have a program that I do across the country called SaveTheArts this is pure radnessthank youI will share with folks!!!! My very smart daughter has been discouraged from the age of 13 from pursuing arts-based subjects in school and we as parents have had to stand up for her and push her to do them because that was what she wanted. Incorporating your ideas would be an appropriate move to the evolution of teaching in general. Pinch pots and still-lives are incremental first steps towards a new way of thinking. Weve all seen thedata suggesting students who take art classes have higher SAT scores. The simple fact that this is the best point art-education advocates can make is very telling. She explained, It all started out with a shiny piece. The importance of art education does not lie in its ability to raise test scores. Thank you for your brilliant blog! For example, Oklahoma, a state over $36 billion in debt, has no choice but to cut funding towards the arts. In the meantime, No Child Left Behind and the Common Core State Standards pushed educators to prioritize science and math over other subjects. Heres a modest proposal: Lets take the art out of art education.. not just in art classes. In England there is very much a tick box mentality towards art in primary schools. Children are encouraged to pack their work with adverbs, words like furthermore and colons, just to gain extra points. My mother worked two to theee jobs to provide for our need's growth up. Schools all throughout the country would be better off keeping their fine arts programs or offering more. These days, it sometimes feels art education is under attack. Skills were taken OUT of art education in the 1970s after Abstract Expressionism had well and truly seduced a generation of art teachers into believing that creating was more important than learning. I would love to be a part of this kind of school that was briefly described but the reality is that this article is more about the maker movement, (which is also a big deal and should be included in education) than the arts education. The fine arts department of the Katy Independent School District in the article, The Importance of Fine Arts Education, argues that the, study and participation in the fine arts is a key component in improving learning throughout all academic areas. Fine arts improve writing because they teach a student how to think creatively and expressively, while enhancing their critical thinking skills. As you stated here and Pink in his book, in order to be globally competitive in this technologically advanced world we need to teach children HOW to think creatively. 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