As students eagerly prepare to embark on their return to school, the significance of art as a subject in schools should not be overlooked. While core subjects like mathematics and science often take precedence in educational curricula, art offers a unique set of benefits that contribute to students’ overall development. In this article, we will explore the value of art education, emphasizing why it should be an integral part of every student’s educational experience.
Why does Art Matter?
In 2019, the mysterious Banksy launched an online store where he would sell his one-of-a-kind art pieces, but there was a catch. Before you could purchase the artwork, you had to answer a question: “Why does Art matter?”.
And if it does matter, what is its rightful place in the educational system around the world?
Art matters because it contributes to the individual growth of a person, pushes through creative challenges, and contributes to individual growth. Most of this nurturing that’s required needs to happen in the early stages of one’s life and, more importantly, in the educational system. According to researchers at Frontier in Psychology, the inclusion of art as one of the fundamental pillars of the educational system improves physical and psychological well-being, encourages creative expression, reduces stress, improves memory, and helps students connect socially.
Another study by John Hopkins University School showed that art helps students understand instructions more effectively, and the benefits not only help the students but also the teachers. When educators integrate creative activities into the curriculum and make them central to academic development; this encourages students to use their imagination, engage with new concepts, and discover connections between ideas, which helps their social and emotional well-being.
Art lessons from kindergarten to Grade 12 can help develop a new perspective and new ideas and make them more forthcoming to criticism, leading to an overall greater level of emotional maturity. Art brings out an individual’s unique thought process. All of this matures into critical thinking and the development of an individually unique perspective by the time they reach high school.
The National Arts Standards have 10 progressive anchor standards that help advance students’ artistic understanding.
10 Anchor Standards
- Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
- Organize and develop ideas and work.
- Refine and complete artistic work.
- Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work.
- Convey meaning through the presentation.
- Perceive and analyze artistic work.
- Interpret intent and meaning.
- Apply criteria to evaluate work.
- Make art by synthesizing and relating knowledge and personal experiences.
- Deepen understanding by relating artistic ideas to societal, historical, and cultural contexts.
Dr Peri Klaus a pediatrician, in his article for the New York Times on the benefits of Art education, says that there is an overall improvement in the overall motivation and academic achievement in curriculums that are art integrated. Students develop new and unique ways to recall what they’ve learned in other subjects.
In conclusion, by incorporating art into the curriculum, schools provide students with opportunities for creativity, self-expression, and personal growth. Art education not only enhances cognitive abilities but also promotes emotional intelligence, cultural appreciation, and interdisciplinary learning. Let us embrace the transformative power of art and ensure that it remains an essential part of every student’s educational experience, fostering a well-rounded education that prepares them for a diverse and dynamic world.