The following brochure
is produced by
The National PTA and
The Getty Center for Education in the Arts.
Because it is available only as a "download",which
you cannot do on public library computers or on many school machines, it
is reproduced here.
The Value of Art Education:
Education in the Arts and Through the Arts
Why is Art Education Important?
Art is essential to learning-not just an educational frill. Learning
about the visual arts gives students a window onto the rich and interesting
world around them, teaching them about their own history and culture, as
well as those of other people. It cultivates self-expression, imagination
and creativity as well as critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Students who learn about art develop their capacities to weigh meanings
and make evaluations and judgments. Understanding and making art can teach
students how to work cooperatively in groups and how to work hard to achieve
a goal.
The development of all of these skills and attributed not only makes
students better learners but it also helps students feel good about themselves-it
builds self-esteem. And in a world in which ideas and information are often
delivered visually, children need to learn how to analyze and judge the
meaning of images and how to use them to communicate their own ideas.
Today's educators and business leaders consider these skills and attributes
vital to individual achievement and America's progress. Yet the fact is
that most schools have experienced budget cuts in art programs during the
last 10 years and, as a result, some schools offer little or no instruction
in art. The students at these schools are missing an opportunity to expand
skills so necessary to succeeding in a competitive economic environment
in our culturally diverse, visually oriented world.
Education in the arts and through the arts is essential, and a complete
approach to learning includes comprehensive visual arts education for grades
K-12.
Parents and Art Education
Parents can make a difference: by encouraging their children's participation
in art at home, by supporting art programs in their community and by helping
to decide how art will be taught in school. Parents can become influential
spokespersons for improving school art programs.
By working together with school staff, with members of art organizations
and with other individuals, parents can make sure that art has an important
place in their children's education and in the community. By holding a
special PTA meeting on the value of art education, you will build parent
awareness about why art education is an important part of every student's
education. You will show parents that Be Smart, Include Art is not
just another slogan and that they can play a crucial role in supporting
art education.
The most important thing that parents and all of us can do is to encourage
education leaders and elected officials to support the inclusion of art
education in the basic curriculum. We can all make a major difference through
our contact with these individuals.
What You Can Do if Your School Does Not Have Art Education
If your school does not have an art program, the first step is to meet
with your principal. Discuss the issue and enlist his or her support. With
the principal's support, your PTA will have a better chance of achieving
its goal. Stress your belief that art is basic to education and that it
can be made an effective part of other parents activities. Encourage the
principal to maintain communication with parents concerning art education
in the school. Second, learn what you can about art education in local
schools.
Do other schools in your area teach art? Has your state developed an
art education curriculum or set of guidelines? Investigate and review the
existing art education departments of education can help provide in-service
training for regular classroom teachers. Collect as much information as
possible. Find out if the school district has an art education curriculum
committee. If it does, ask to have a PTA representative appointed to the
committee. If it does not, urge the school superintendent and board of
education to appoint such a committee and include a PTA representative,
teachers, community art advocates artists and others. Finally, urge parents
to maintain contact with school administrators and board members to demonstrate
their continuing support for art education.
