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Sept. 24, 2018
Art brings color to school Ashley Steele steelash000@hsestudents.org
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oices harmonizing, paintbrushes swirling colors around a canvas and musicians playing instruments to the beat of a conductor’s hands cover a few of the events that occur in art classes offered at schools. Art means something different to everyone due to the numerous forms that exist today. But there lies a similarity between all the forms: a creative outlet. Medical News Today, a health-related news website, reported a correlation between using a creative outlet and having better mental health, a positive outlook and a brain boost. Despite rules for projects in these classes appearing as a restriction on how creative students may be, they provide students with real life experiences. Some of which include finishing projects by a certain date, and communicating with classmates and their teacher. Regardless of whether they decide to pursue an art career, these classes give students practice with the challenge of creatively solving problems with constraints on what they are allowed to do. College Board states that art credits help people recognize patterns, notice differences and similarities, and exercise their mind. However, many people believe art classes waste space in their schedule, but most colleges recommend if not require taking one to two semesters of art classes according to College Board. People against required art classes state that it does not relate to core classes. However, art classes have been proven to strengthen skills related to these classes. “Learning to Think Critically: a Visual Art Experiment” published by Sage Publications found greater critical thinking skills associated with art education. In addition to this, Arts Education Partnership discovered boosted motivation and engagement among students taking art. All of these skills are necessities to STEM classes. There has been a push to change school’s approach from STEM to STEAM to focus on a greater art presence in classrooms. Jobs in several STEM careers believe art and creativity go handin-hand within them. Some of these careers include computer scientist, video game designer and architect. Art credits also provide people with social benefits. The U.S. Department of Education found that these increase self-efficacy and self-esteem while ArtsEdSearch, a research group, found that art programs decrease “withdrawal, social anxiety and aggression.” While not everyone wants to take art classes, creativity is being integrated into many careers. On top of this, art provides social and educational benefits which makes taking these classes essential to people’s futures.
“Art credits should be required because they are just as important as math or science and art classes help you understand the world better.” - Mia Stahl, 11
“Math and science are valued over art which should be just as appreciated. Also art is in everyoneʼs everyday life.” - Lisa Harrington, 12
“It allows for self expression for students and helps them find their inner truth.” - Jace Hughes, 11