The Importance of Art Education

CEBU, Philippines – Art education is vital for students. Art allows students to learn about themselves, their culture, and their community. By taking art classes, students begin to visualize the world differently.  The creativity and imagination of students are pushed through the development of art.  It is necessary for art educators to cultivate and guide students with quality art lessons to increase their (the students') understanding and relationship with the world.

Art classes are very influential to students because these affect them in ways that many other classes cannot.  Art classes develop a child's creativity, thought process, and ways of expression.

Art education helps guide a child's mental development. According to Freedman and Stuhr (2000), art education conserves "and transmits heritage, helping students to recognize and appreciate the diverse perspectives they will encounter in an increasingly global community" (p. 3).  Art gives students the ability to, "draw meaningful relationships among the artworks they have created and interpreted and with many other cultural texts in the arts, humanities, and sciences" (p. 5).  According to Freedman and Boughton, many parts of the brain are involved when learning about art and it builds deep cognitive connections.  This explains how children get to understand that one symbol may represent different ideas among many cultures.

The importance of art education can be understood through the habits that the students form.  Students discover new things while creating art, and they are then able to adapt the new knowledge to daily life.  Szekely and Bucknam (2012) stress that children can apply what they learn in art classes to everyday life.  Their thought processes develop greatly.  Students begin to approach everything creatively and this will even help them in other classes such as English or even Math.

Habits are formed from trial and error in art projects.  Art projects teach children the value of learning how to make effective solutions and learn from them.  Art education is essential for growth and development because children not only express creativity, but they learn important life lessons as well.

Art education is very important in schools and studies support why art education is necessary.  Creating art allows children to envision and understand the world on a different level, in ways that are not possible in other areas.  Art classes in schools afford the child the opportunity to learn creatively and expressively.  Art education plays an important role to inspire children and guide their creativity, growth, and understanding of the world.

Again, art education is crucial for the children's development.  School boards shall understand that art education is necessary and very important for students.  Art classes offer children critical lessons about life that they are not exposed to in their other classes.  Art teachers drive the creativity and the imagination of students, while allowing students to express themselves.

References: Freedman, K., & Boughton, D. (2012). Chapter 4: Artistic Development and Identity Construction. Making Art Meaningful: A Practical Approach to Teaching Visual Culture. In Preparation for New York: McGraw Hill; Freedman, K., & Stuhr, P.L. (2012). Art Education is Not a Frill-It is Essential! Advocacy White Papers for Art Education: National Art Education Association; Szekely, G., & Bucknam, J.A. (2012). Art Teaching Elementary through Middle School. New York: Routledge

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