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The Arts
are an important part of education. Arts' programs:
- increase self-esteem, confidence, and sensitivity to the emotions
and needs of other human beings;
- contribute to understanding among different peoples, and help
students learn about other cultures;
- open the horizons of the creative mind; and
- enhance learning in other subjects, such as math, science,
geography, language and history by reinforcing ideas and expanding
concepts taught.
Over the
years, evidence for the educational value of the arts has grown
steadily. High school students, for example, who study at least
one of the arts – theater, visual arts, dance, or music -
score about 40 points higher on the verbal and math sections of
the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) than other students. Some schools
use Arts methods to
assess students’ academic performance and determine the level
of achievement beyond standard.
Parents can
contact their legislators, boards of education, superintendents
and principals to promote Arts education as part of the curriculum.
The National Education Association supports making the arts a basic
part of education through its Arts in Education Program.
Parents
also can encourage their students’ growth in the Arts. Study
and talk about the history of a special work of art—a quilt,
a piece of pottery, or a painting – enhance their learning
experience. One of the best ways to get your child excited about
art is to be enthusiastic yourself.
National
PTA offers additional ideas for promoting arts education.
National
PTA's Reflections Program encourages millions of students to create
works of arts. Students in preschool through grade 12 are encouraged
to create and submit works of art in one or more of six areas: literature,
musical composition, photography, visual arts (which includes art
forms such as drawing, painting, print making, and collage), dance
choreography and film/video production. Learn
more...
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