Art Education

I am sure that you remember taking Art education when you were a child in school.  Unfortunately, many children today are facing the possibility of a future without Art education.  The problem lies in the “No Child Left Behind Act”.  Though the act has caused great gains and strides in literacy and mathematic skills, the emphasis of the act has been a focus on these subjects, while other subjects such as Music and Art are failing to meet the criteria as “required curriculum”. 

If the required curriculum isn’t enough to cause a threat to the future of Art education, combine that with the many budget cuts in school districts across America and you will see a recipe for disaster.  When a school doesn’t have the money to promote these programs and they aren’t required, they are the first to go.  The funding for art programs are challenged in the federal as well as state levels.

Preserving Art education should be a concern of many parents of school-aged children.  The instruction of art nurtures creativity and helps develop many other skills then commonly associated with art.  Art can be used to teach community awareness and bridge the gap between cultures.  Art awareness can be instrumental in developing logic skills, mathematical reasoning, and can help foster a sense of unity within a classroom.  Many art projects will require cooperation between classmates and can be a powerful teaching tool for developing social and moral skills.

In an effort to save and preserve Art education many school districts as well as individual schools have resorted to fund raising efforts and have used creative and innovative methods to acquire the funds for the art program.  Inviting local artists to speak and participate in the art education program is an effective and powerful way to convey to children the importance of art in their lives.