The Importance of Arts in The classroom

The arts are usually the first thing to be cut in schools, wether that be from being a program completely, or from a students class schedule due to extra help needs. It is a conflict constantly debated in our education systems, wether we have too much art are not enough. The arts are proven to benefit children and students mentally and in their studies. Working in the arts really helps to refine skills such as fine motor skills, mathematical skills, language skills, and more. Not only that but thinking creatively is incredibly beneficial to function in working society. 

Now I might be biased but I believe that we need to keep the arts in schools as much as possible. I recently began my journey to become an art teacher, and seeing how tings function from the teachers point of view changed a few of my opinions to say the least. In the school district I am observing at, they force the teachers to use an online classroom format, like Google Classroom or Canvas. I'm usually all for the online platforms for materials, but the way it is executed can have an adverse effect on how students think of an art class. Art class is supposed to stimulate students and encourage them to think creatively while simultaneously teaching artistic skills. I've noticed in many schools and different districts they are introducing more "non art" classwork. Basically quizzes, question and answer assignments, and more. It is important for students to have a break in the day and to learn to think creatively, but forcing more non related art assignments into an art class is taking that away. This leads to students participating less, putting forwards less effort, and in result, their grades start to drop. When this happens, along with budget cuts, the arts quickly get pushed aside and soon disappear from the curriculum. In my educational psychology class we talked about how one of the main things successful students and people in the work world have is creativity. It is important because being creative is how you come up with different. Solutions to problems that were unfixable in the past, or coming up with way to better execute a project or task. Art is a great way to teach those skills. Now going back to students needing a break; they are stuck in a building for 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week, sitting in a desk for up to an hour and a half at a time. Not only that, they are forced to pay attention during class and work on assignments, not just at school, but usually at home for homework as well. This is one of the main reasons electives were put in place, so students could have a break from their general education courses and learn something they are interested in. Many people argue that lunch counts as a break for the students. Which is something I highly disagree with. They are supposed to be eating, they usually only have 30 minutes to even do that. Teachers are required to have lunch breaks too, but they also have a planning period. I equalize planning to students taking an electives. Planning for teachers usually consists of having a little break from students and having time to get work done. Electives are students having break from their general education courses, While still learning and working. Now most of the elective courses are in the arts, studio arts, theater, music, creative writing and more. These give students an outlet not only for their creativity, but also their stress, and feelings.

Students working on a clay project in a classroom

High school students are going through some of the most confusing times of their lives, their emotions and hormones are all over the place, I should know I've been there. The arts are a way for them to harness that into a positive way. On top of that, the arts can help you develop a hobby, which is proven to show positive effects on ones mental health. 

Now I know I have talked a ton about high school and the arts, but what about elementary? High school is what I plan to teach in the future, but I believe elementary schools involvement in the arts is crucial for high school arts to succeed. As with most things, starting young is the way to go. Having them learn while they are young to use the arts as a creative outlet will help students get into the habit of it. On top of that, it will also teach appreciation of the arts while students are young. Everything we consume at some point involved an artist. Whether it's the music you listen to, the social media apps you use everyday, to the design on a bottle of olive oil. We look at art constantly. There is always the stigma of the starving artist, but most artists now a days aren’t starving, they are flourishing in success. Every company in this world has some designer or artist involved in it. The arts shouldn’t be treated as a non successful industry anymore. We are in the age of the internet, It is thousands of times easier to get a job in the arts now then compared to even 20 years ago. Students should be encouraged to study in the arts. Their opportunities shouldn’t be taken from them by schools discontinuing these types of programs.