Art Education for our Children

“There’s lots of evidence that kids immersed in the arts do better on their academic tests.” Tom Horne, Educationist

In a country that is obsessed with academic results, art education ends up taking a back seat! However, it should be the opposite. There is enough data that supports the fact that education in the arts improves academic achievement – yes it improves outcomes in math and reading! There is a tendency as exam competition increases we slowly replace art with academic lessons. But this is truly a step backward! If we want our children to do better we need to expose them to more art rather than less!

And it is not just about academics.

Art education solves many other problems too. Research has shown that it is closely linked with other key areas of development such as social and emotional development, critical thinking and civic engagement. With art education, children are able to think and understand that problems can have more than one solution, an essential skill to be an effective problem solver a key 21^st century skill. Art also teaches children that there are multiple ways to interpret the world, and neither is right or wrong but a point of view. Art education is also a great equalizer. It transcends language, ability and age. It helps children find other ways of expressing thoughts and feelings.

 

It is critical to make art a more meaningful part of our curriculum to raise a generation that is empathic, happy, tolerate and observant. Vote for more art education at school – here are 7 reasons why:

1. Improved academic performance: Children working with art do better in math and reading.
2. Builds creative thinking: Art builds creativity and imagination, essential skills in the 21^st century.
3. Builds confidence: Performance and visual art both build greater confidence in different ways – one through presentation, the other through introspection.
4. Improves visual learning: Art education teaches students how to interpret, criticize, and use visual information.
5. Improves decision Making: The arts strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills.
6. Builds better focus: Mastering art required focus an essential skill for jobs.
7. Better communication: Children learn to communicate their thoughts and feelings beyond language.
8. Creates empathy: Children understand that a problem might have different solutions, and can be looked at with another perspective. Understanding this makes them more empathic to another’s thoughts or feelings.

As we move into a world where skills for success are creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration and empathy, we need to push for more art education rather than less. Our children will grow to become happier, more confident, more empathic citizens of the world.