Why is Arts Education Just as Important as Math and Reading?

5 Reasons Why Teaching Art is So Important for Kids Creativity, Curiosity, Imagination, Resiliency, and Academic Performance.

Teaching and Incorporating the Visual Arts in Daily Lessons Grows Critical and Higher Order Thinking Skills. Arts are an essential part of education, they build curiosity, creativity, and the instill high standards when student understand the connection between creativity and production. This value goes beyond the discipline of the arts as a career path for fine arts, media, art and design, marketing and communications. Teaching the arts in public schools has added value in benefits of long-term learning outcomes, supporting creative and critical thinking, improving life and learning skills, enhancing social skills and social cohesion and offers value added for career development. Arts education is a great model for teaching standards, quality, task completion, and project-based learning. Understanding “quality” develops and improves judgment, perseverance, an understanding of procedures, encourages students to internalize high standards, develops greater intelligence and industriousness. All of these benefits touch young people of all ages and have repercussions for society as a whole. They speak loud and clear to the importance of keeping the arts in public schools for generations to come.

Unfortunately, part of the predominant political agenda that has dominated the US in recent decades has lead to a rise of profane school reforms, an intensity of institutional blame, aspirant standardized testing, educator accountability and a drastic slashing of public budgets for essential services. Public education and social services are the 21st-century whipping boys of politicians and media. The past few decades have seen a huge decline in learning outcomes and standards in terms of overall skill testing. Further to this, the impact of the mistakes made by politicians and Wall Street are now costing us the future of our children. It’s time now, more than ever, to understand the importance of the arts and how it’s so much more than just a class in school – it’s the foundation of our society’s future! 
     The arts include a wide range of discipline, including music, visual arts, acting, game development, reading and writing, creative thinking, drama and dance to name but a few. All of these disciplines are essential to the development of young minds. They raise children and youth’s self-esteem, self-confidence, and the experience of success in these areas can help them perform better in other areas of academics, such as science and academics. By investing in the arts, we are supporting our youth in developing other skills. Studies show that children who learn music perform better in mathematics and youth who are involved in theater are far stronger readers and writers. These skills reinforce other areas of the curriculum and build on each other and for this reason, they are essential.

1. BUILDING IMAGINATION, CURIOSITY, and CREATIVITY! 

2. Supporting creative and critical thinking

The arts support creative and critical thinking, which is a foundation of post-secondary education. Youth who are involved in the arts develop stronger creative and critical thinking skills, which are essential for them on the job market in any field, and can help them develop the types of intellectual skills required to pursue further education.

3. Improved life and learning skills

Studies also demonstrated that children and youth who enjoy creative time also enjoy learning more and are more likely to be a part of extracurricular activities, and less involved in self-destructive behaviors like alcoholism and drug experimentation. They are more focused on their education and have stronger learning outcomes over their lifetime.

4. Enhanced social skills and social cohesion

Since so many aspects of the arts, such as theater and dance also involve elements of social skills and cooperation, youth who are involved in these activities, or any of the arts, have stronger social skills and are more interested in the common good. They are often the students who take on care and volunteer work, which is the backbone of our society.

5. Value-added career development

Keeping the arts in public schools help youth maintain healthy lifestyles and keeps them invested in their own education, which will be very valuable for encouraging them to pursue post-secondary education and continuing life-long learning, which is also essential in today’s job market. The arts are a proven way to make sure that youth has the advantage for today’s competitive job market.