Marie Mewes
Arts Education in the K-12 Curriculum
As our world advances technologically, schools have begun to shift their focus on math, the sciences, and standardized tests. Between the many chemistry, biology, physics, algebra, and calculus classes being added to school curriculums though out the U.S., students should be well prepared to strive for success in the professional or academic world beyond high school, but could we be forgetting something? Between all the classes and test preparation designed to exercise our logical brains, have we overlooked the creative side of our brains entirely? While almost all schools are required by state laws to include math, science, history, and English in their curriculum, very few schools consider arts education part of a required curriculum. Usually art, music, theater, and dance are pushed aside as just another elective option rather than as a fundamental part of a student’s education.
Even though not everyone is in favor of required art classes, most of us can agree art helps build creativity and problem solving skills. For example, Seneca Academy, an elementary school in Maryland focused on integration of arts education, reports an increase in overall class engagement as well as improved motor skill thanks to arts education. (Seneca Academy) Now, you may argue that, while art might be fun and engaging, it doesn’t help students in other areas of school or help improve those important standardized test scores. This isn’t actually true. The engagement, creativity, and problem solving skills built by arts education have been proven to bolster performance in many areas of school. In a study of Missouri schools, increased arts education programs actually raised average sixth through eighth grade MAP math test scores from 683 to 687 and overall average MAP scores from 674 to 677. (Licata) As these studies show, an arts education does help students excel in other areas of their education. For example, a student might use his increased desire for class engagement to engage in creative and meaningful discussions in history class. Another student might use the problem solving skills learned in art class to find creative approaches to math problems. Yet another student may use confidence built in theater classes to proudly present their next science paper. Beyond high school many career fields, such as engineering, architecture, or writing, require both knowledge and creativity. Scientists and programmers need to find creative, not only logical, approaches and solutions to modern problems.
While many schools do offer art and music classes as electives, only forty-one percent offer classes in theater, and only ten percent of schools offer classes in dance. While some arts education does exist as electives, only thirty-nine percent of schools require any arts credits for graduation. (Carey et al.) Arts education is viewed as less important to a student’s learning than math, core sciences, history, or English although multiple studies have shown the benefits of an arts education. For example, a study in Missouri schools found an increase in arts education programs raised graduation rates from an average of 87.9 percent to 91.2 percent. (Licata) A separate study found an increased focus on arts education linked to a 3.6 percent drop in disciplinary infractions and a thirteen percent increase in standardized writing scores. (Kisida and Bowen)
With all this evidence to support arts education, why is it still not considered fundamental to a student’s education? In this advancing and changing world, we must place a new emphasis on building the creativity and problem solving skills needed to solve the complex problems we face today. Arts education, such as fine arts, music, theater, and dance, should not be seen as inferior to other classes. We should work to improve existing art programs in schools and create new art programs where necessary. Arts education should be a part of the curriculum in grades K-12 and should be a part of graduation requirements, not just an elective or part-time class.
Works Cited
Carey, Nancy, et al. NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS Statistical Analysis Report Arts Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. U.S. Department of Education, 1995.
Hunakai Studio. “The Many Benefits of Art Classes for Children | Hunakai Studio.” Hunakaistudio.Org, Hunakai Studio, 11 July 2018, www.hunakaistudio.org/blog/the-many-benefits-of-art-classes-for-children/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2020.
Kisida, Brian, and Daniel H Bowen. “New Evidence of the Benefits of Arts Education.” Brookings, Brookings, 12 Feb. 2019, www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2019/02/12/new-evidence-of-the-benefits-of-arts-education/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2020.
Licata, Christina. Arts Education Makes a Difference in Missouri Schools: A Study of Fine Arts Education in Missouri School Districts Funded by the Missouri Arts Council. Missouri AlliAnce for Arts educAtion, 2010.
Rabkin, Nick, and E C Hedberg. Arts Education in America: What the Declines Mean for Arts Participation. National Endowment for the Arts, 2011.
Seneca Academy. “Arts Integration in School: 10 Reasons Why It’s Important.” Seneca Academy, Seneca Academy, 2018, www.senecaacademy.org/10-reasons-why-integrating-art-is-important-in-school/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2020.
Arts Education in the K-12 Curriculum
As our world advances technologically, schools have begun to shift their focus on math, the sciences, and standardized tests. Between the many chemistry, biology, physics, algebra, and calculus classes being added to school curriculums though out the U.S., students should be well prepared to strive for success in the professional or academic world beyond high school, but could we be forgetting something? Between all the classes and test preparation designed to exercise our logical brains, have we overlooked the creative side of our brains entirely? While almost all schools are required by state laws to include math, science, history, and English in their curriculum, very few schools consider arts education part of a required curriculum. Usually art, music, theater, and dance are pushed aside as just another elective option rather than as a fundamental part of a student’s education.
Even though not everyone is in favor of required art classes, most of us can agree art helps build creativity and problem solving skills. For example, Seneca Academy, an elementary school in Maryland focused on integration of arts education, reports an increase in overall class engagement as well as improved motor skill thanks to arts education. (Seneca Academy) Now, you may argue that, while art might be fun and engaging, it doesn’t help students in other areas of school or help improve those important standardized test scores. This isn’t actually true. The engagement, creativity, and problem solving skills built by arts education have been proven to bolster performance in many areas of school. In a study of Missouri schools, increased arts education programs actually raised average sixth through eighth grade MAP math test scores from 683 to 687 and overall average MAP scores from 674 to 677. (Licata) As these studies show, an arts education does help students excel in other areas of their education. For example, a student might use his increased desire for class engagement to engage in creative and meaningful discussions in history class. Another student might use the problem solving skills learned in art class to find creative approaches to math problems. Yet another student may use confidence built in theater classes to proudly present their next science paper. Beyond high school many career fields, such as engineering, architecture, or writing, require both knowledge and creativity. Scientists and programmers need to find creative, not only logical, approaches and solutions to modern problems.
While many schools do offer art and music classes as electives, only forty-one percent offer classes in theater, and only ten percent of schools offer classes in dance. While some arts education does exist as electives, only thirty-nine percent of schools require any arts credits for graduation. (Carey et al.) Arts education is viewed as less important to a student’s learning than math, core sciences, history, or English although multiple studies have shown the benefits of an arts education. For example, a study in Missouri schools found an increase in arts education programs raised graduation rates from an average of 87.9 percent to 91.2 percent. (Licata) A separate study found an increased focus on arts education linked to a 3.6 percent drop in disciplinary infractions and a thirteen percent increase in standardized writing scores. (Kisida and Bowen)
With all this evidence to support arts education, why is it still not considered fundamental to a student’s education? In this advancing and changing world, we must place a new emphasis on building the creativity and problem solving skills needed to solve the complex problems we face today. Arts education, such as fine arts, music, theater, and dance, should not be seen as inferior to other classes. We should work to improve existing art programs in schools and create new art programs where necessary. Arts education should be a part of the curriculum in grades K-12 and should be a part of graduation requirements, not just an elective or part-time class.
Works Cited
Carey, Nancy, et al. NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS Statistical Analysis Report Arts Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. U.S. Department of Education, 1995.
Hunakai Studio. “The Many Benefits of Art Classes for Children | Hunakai Studio.” Hunakaistudio.Org, Hunakai Studio, 11 July 2018, www.hunakaistudio.org/blog/the-many-benefits-of-art-classes-for-children/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2020.
Kisida, Brian, and Daniel H Bowen. “New Evidence of the Benefits of Arts Education.” Brookings, Brookings, 12 Feb. 2019, www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2019/02/12/new-evidence-of-the-benefits-of-arts-education/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2020.
Licata, Christina. Arts Education Makes a Difference in Missouri Schools: A Study of Fine Arts Education in Missouri School Districts Funded by the Missouri Arts Council. Missouri AlliAnce for Arts educAtion, 2010.
Rabkin, Nick, and E C Hedberg. Arts Education in America: What the Declines Mean for Arts Participation. National Endowment for the Arts, 2011.
Seneca Academy. “Arts Integration in School: 10 Reasons Why It’s Important.” Seneca Academy, Seneca Academy, 2018, www.senecaacademy.org/10-reasons-why-integrating-art-is-important-in-school/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2020.