Webster 1

Aliya Webster

Mrs. Cramer

Comp. Pd. 4

7 December 2018

Schools are Framed by Artists

Arts and music education programs are mandatory in countries that rank consistently

among the highest for math and science test scores, such as Japan, Hungary, and the

Netherlands.1 The creative sector of the economy continues to grow. Art education fosters the

growth by training the next generation of artists. Art classes also build diverse communities by

breaking down across racial stereotypes, religious barriers, and socio-economic classes. Art

education is important for the developing mind and encourages children to be expressive and to

feel good about themselves. Most people agree the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded

education for children. Today’s world is a witness to the Information Age. The primary sources

of content and information are no longer teacher lectures or textbooks. Learning is not limited to

what a person knows but is dependent upon how to find information and how to use that

information quickly, creatively, and cooperatively (“Katy”). Art education is a hidden gem in

schools and must be given thought to as those types of classes have numerous benefits for

children such as improving self-confidence and academic performance.

Firstly, art education has been found to improve confidence which is something that most

kids lack. Confidence is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something, firm

1Logos - a literary device that can be defined as a statement, sentence, or argument used to convince or persuade
the targeted audience by employing reason or logic. This sentence is a logos because its convincing the audience
with a fact.
 Webster 2

trust. Art education is known to help with one of the most important qualities a person should

have. Confidence comes naturally with success, but success comes only to those who are

confident, which means that kids will grow, with confidence, when doing something they love

and are good at but if they are never given the chance, then how would their confidence have a

chance to grow?2 While mastering a subject certainly builds a student’s confidence, there is

something special about participating in the arts. Getting up on a stage and singing or performing

in some way gives kids a chance to step outside their comfort zone and show a part of

themselves. As they improve and see their own progress, their self-confidence will continue to

grow (Martin). This is a good example as one is improving or getting better at something, one’s

confidence will build and therefore, the arts have boosted the confidence of that child. As one

performs a talent they have and are complimented, or encouraged, progress is achieved and

causes them to try harder. Also, letting kids express themselves freely can build up their

confidence (Trombetta). Kids are still growing and impacted by thoughts and feelings therefore,

if someone discouraged a child from participating in art or playing an instrument that could crush

that child’s confidence. If kids are given a chance to express themselves freely, they will feel

proud of themselves and that pride will help to grow their self-esteem. Art education can be a

huge help to anyone's self-confidence and high self-esteem transfers into and can influence many

other areas in life.

Secondly, when schools are making cuts, art education may be the first to go just because

people have trouble seeing the importance of it compared to subjects such as science or math.

Some people think that science and math classes are much more important because they are seen

to be much more useful in future jobs, but they do not know all the benefits and the ways in

2Chiasmus - a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of
their structures in order to produce an artistic effect. This is shown between confidence with success and success
with confidence.
 Webster 3

which art classes can be used in people's lives. Art helps with basic daily tasks such as decision

making, the ability to focus, and how to handle making mistakes. Overall, studies show students

who enroll in art classes tend to do better in school than the ones who don’t. Even though art

education isn't for everyone, it is still just as important as any other class and has great benefits

that other classes don’t.

Another reason most schools want to get rid of art education is that it is too expensive.

The cost of art education might be costly, but it is worth it in the long run. It is a well-known fact

that public schools never have enough money to run elective classes, but if kids never have the

chance to try an art, music, or theater class, they may miss the chance to excel at something that

they could enjoy for their lifetime, whether it be through a job or a hobby. One part of the reason

fine arts is the first to be cut out of the curriculum is that they are not the most obvious money

maker (compared to say sporting events) (“Why”). Schools, when taking budget cuts, need to

think of all the benefits children will lose when the arts are cut. What happens to the kids who

feel good about themselves from these classes? Within an art class, students can express

themselves in a different way instead of just reading a book, studying, and having to retain

information. Critical thinking skills, problem solving, and reasoning are all improved with art

classes. How does it make sense to get rid of something that helps kids with academics or their

confidence level?

Lastly, art education has helped people improve students' academic performance, which

is a great reason to have those kinds of classes in schools. A report by Americans for the Arts

says that young people who participate regularly in the arts (at least three hours a week) are four

times more likely to be recognized for academic achievements. 3 Enough data exists to support

3 Ethos - means to convince an audience of the author's credibility or character. This is ethos because it is
convincing the audience with a credible author, the Americans for the Arts.
 Webster 4

that study and participation in the arts is key in an educational environment (“Katy”). This

example is a perfect way to show how if someone has as little as three hours a week, academic

achievements can be seen. If that same student is in a class for a year, he or she would have been

given three hours a week times thirty-six weeks, which gives that child better room for

improvement in academics.

Evidence of its effectiveness in reducing student dropout, raising student attendance,

developing better team players, fostering a love for learning, improving greater student

dignity, enhancing student creativity, and producing a more prepared citizen for the

workplace for tomorrow can be found documented in studies held in varied

settings, from school campuses, to corporate America. (“Katy”).

Art education helps students with not only the grades but, spills out into daily tasks and future

achievements. Unlike much of the curriculum in which correct answers and rules prevail, in the

arts, it is judgment rather than rules that are important. The arts cannot be learned through

occasional or random exposure any more than math or science can. All in all, the amazing

research and findings about students enrolled in art classes and how they’re more likely to

improve in academics is truly eye opening.

In conclusion, art education is overlooked in all schools and administrators have a hard

time seeing its importance, but it helps kids improve academically and feel more confident.

Schools need to offer more in-depth learning about the things that matter the most: order,

integrity, thinking skills, a sense of wonder, truth, flexibility, fairness, dignity, contribution,

justice, creativity and cooperation (Martin). The arts provide all of these. The arts are what make

us most human, most complete as people. Art education helps develop creative right brain
 Webster 5

functions, as well as the whole brain by strengthening focus and increasing attention.

Engagement in the fine arts helps students to stretch their minds beyond the boundaries of the

printed text or the rules of what is provable. Art education classes are helping kids perform better

and achieve higher grades, which are important to be successful in future schooling. All these

help with building kids' self-confidence which is vital with growing children. Countries that are

scoring the highest in science and math make art and music class mandatory, which shows how

important they are and why we need them in schools.

 Webster 6

Works Cited

“Katy Independent School District.” The Importance of Fine Arts Education,

www.katyisd.org/dept/finearts/Pages/The-Importance-of-Fine-Arts-Education-.aspx.

Assessed 19 Sept. 2018.

Martin, Lauren. “10 Reasons Why Arts in Education Is so Important for Kids.” Learning Liftoff,

15 Aug. 2018.

Trombetta, Anne. "The freedom to express." School Arts, Apr. 1992, p. 27. Academic OneFile,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A12157431/AONE?u=pl1949&sid=AONE&xid=ec1f

7573. Accessed 19 Sept. 2018

“Why Schools Are Cutting Fine Arts.” SiOWfa15 Science in Our World Certainty and

Controversy, sites.psu.edu/richmondcivicissue/2014/03/26/why-schools-are-cutting-fine-

arts-education/.