Back in the day, art was an essential part of the school curriculum. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, art classes lost their essence to more serious school subjects, such as Mathematics and sciences.
What most people do not appreciate is the importance of art to developing children. They only see it as fun and a complete waste of time. The good news is that currently, multiple groups are advocating for art for education and schools. Here are some of the reasons why;-
Table of Contents
Enhance Student Creativity in school
Creativity is one of the most sought-after skills in the job market today. Unfortunately, not many of the youth can confidently claim that they are creative. Studies show that students taking art classes perform better on creativity assessment than those receiving little or no classes.
Art students exhibit greater flexibility and adaptability than their peers. Imagine a class where you are given a creative space. Yours is to tap into your imagination and fill the space with a color that displays who you are. Is that not a perfect environment to foster creativity, an essential skill in the rapidly changing world?
Encourages Student Participation
Arts is hands-on, gives instant gratification, focuses on the positives, results in concrete products, and encourages collaboration. It provides students with endless opportunities to tap into their authenticity and demonstrate their skills.
Furthermore, art enables students to appreciate learning by handing them a medium to connect new knowledge to personal experiences. Ultimately, they get to express what they have learned, plus their imagination, through their authentic art pieces.
Students Learn Positive Habits in school
Art helps foster a positive culture in school. Consequently, when art is integrated into the school curriculum, disciplinary referrals decrease while instructions’ effectiveness increases.
It is through art that students develop a positive attitude towards themselves, others, and learning. Besides, art requires constant practice, patience, and persistence, all of which are crucial to a child’s growth and development.
Students gain confidence as they become flawless in activities not considered easy. Artistic discipline develops character in young people. What’s more, children learn good habits, behaviors, and attitudes required for success in any field.
Sharpens Student’s Intellectual Skills
Undoubtedly, art fosters intelligent thinking that spills over to learning other academic subjects and life outside school. Through art, children learn to critically observe a situation, analyze from various angles, and develop possible solutions.
We are in a world where young people have to wade through a sea of information discover the most relevant fact regarding a particular topic. The critical skills come in handy as one prepares for college and in other life aspects.
Molds Future Leaders
You may have noticed that most student leaders are also active members of various art classes. Admittedly, art enables students to develop crucial leadership skills, including strategy building, decision making, planning, and reflection.
What’s more, they prepare to use these skills effectively by developing a strong sense of identity and confidence in their ability to effect changes around them.
Students Practice Teamwork in school
Most art class activities require the student to work in groups. This allows the children to experience what it feels like to work with other community members to achieve common goals.
As the students work together to develop a theatrical performance or any other sort of collaborative art endeavor, they get to appreciate the different opinions and diversity of characters out there. Most importantly, they discover that teamwork almost always results in excellent performances.
Additionally, art enables students to learn how to live and work with others, making schools a safe and more peaceful environment. Students learn to articulate their intentions during art classes, receive and offer criticism, and listen to others.
Enriches learning in other subjects
Art integrates all other subjects in its teaching process. For example, artworks offer a visual context to learn about historical periods. Drama, music, dance, and painting helps literature come alive. At the same time, graphic designs and drawings enhance knowledge of scientific and technological principles and innovations.
A study by the Americans for the Arts showed that students who participate in arts are more likely to receive academic awards or participate in math and science fairs than children who do not engage in art.
Conclusion
From this piece, it is obvious there is more to art than meets the eye. Children do not just make messes and have fun. They also develop life skills that could never be taught in the regular school curriculum. With this in mind, education stakeholders should advocate for the return of art in schools.
