Art Education by Khalil Samir Queeman
Co-founder of Microsoft, Paul G. Allen once said, “In my own philanthropy and business endeavors, I have seen the critical role that the arts play in stimulating creativity and in developing vital communities….the arts have a crucial impact on our economy and are an important catalyst for learning, discovery, and achievement in our country.”(Paul G. Allen, Co-Founder, Microsoft) This is just one of the millions of educated and well respected people who understand the importance of arts education in schools across America. The arts education has a positive and lasting effect on the behavior of inner-city youth. Young people who are exposed to the arts whether in the suburbs or the inner-city are more successful than those who are not. The arts education brings along a great deal of social benefits, starting with education, and expanding into wise career choices. The arts provide a safe haven for at risk youth, while providing a large horizon of options after high school. Many of the greatest people in history understood, accepted, engaged, and participated in some form of the arts education, allowing them to adapt in social situations better than those who have not.
When reviewing arts education in the United States, as well as in other nations, it has become a common phenomenon believed by many people that an individual can be better accommodated for the real world, if they have received an education which included the arts. These philosophies trace back to the Greco/Roman period. For example, Aristotle included music and drawing in his statement when writing about education in the Eight Book of Politics, explaining that it displays a proper way of down time, when not busying one’s self with an occupation.
According to Joseph M. Calahan, Director of Cooperate Communications, at Xerox Corporation, “Arts education aids students in skills needed in the workplace: flexibility, the ability to solve problems and communicate, the ability to learn new skills, to be creative and innovative, and to strive for excellence. (Joseph M. Calahan)” Calahan does have a point when he states the benefits of an arts education. A study shows that The College Entrance Examination Board found that students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math, in their SAT’s, than students with no arts participation, (2001). Inner-city, as well as suburban, youth who are exposed to or a part of the arts arena have better chances of succeeding in life. In 2006 The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum conducted a study on arts education and its link between the actual education and how it improves literacy skills. The Guggenheim found an interesting fact while studying grade children two years in a row. Students were able to better interpret an image given in a story by relating back to paintings they were asked to create. This gave not only the students but also the teachers a new hope, because it introduced a new form of teaching literature.
When reviewing arts education in the United States, as well as in other nations, it has become a common phenomenon believed by many people that an individual can be better accommodated for the real world, if they have received an education which included the arts. These philosophies trace back to the Greco/Roman period. For example, Aristotle included music and drawing in his statement when writing about education in the Eight Book of Politics, explaining that it displays a proper way of down time, when not busying one’s self with an occupation.
According to Joseph M. Calahan, Director of Cooperate Communications, at Xerox Corporation, “Arts education aids students in skills needed in the workplace: flexibility, the ability to solve problems and communicate, the ability to learn new skills, to be creative and innovative, and to strive for excellence. (Joseph M. Calahan)” Calahan does have a point when he states the benefits of an arts education. A study shows that The College Entrance Examination Board found that students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math, in their SAT’s, than students with no arts participation, (2001). Inner-city, as well as suburban, youth who are exposed to or a part of the arts arena have better chances of succeeding in life. In 2006 The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum conducted a study on arts education and its link between the actual education and how it improves literacy skills. The Guggenheim found an interesting fact while studying grade children two years in a row. Students were able to better interpret an image given in a story by relating back to paintings they were asked to create. This gave not only the students but also the teachers a new hope, because it introduced a new form of teaching literature.
The Dana Foundation is also a strong supporter of the arts education. The Dana Foundation understands the importance that the arts has on the human mind, and has funded large amounts of resources towards this study. For example, The Dana Foundation hosted a summit in 2009 at John Hopkins University discussing Neuroeducation: Learning, Arts, and the Brain. This summit uncovered major facts such as, “…studies in 21 actors trained in theater performance, compared to 24 demographically similar control participants, revealed that actors do not have better verbatim verbal memory. Instead, they are better able to extract the general idea from the verbal material, and this skill is transferable to other verbal cognitive skills.” What makes the two groups different is the fact that the person with the arts education understands how to pick and analyze a situation better because of their training in seeing things in other ways.
Young people who are exposed to the arts are well rounded when competing in society for jobs, and schools. For example, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), found a few major reasons to why young people are not succeeding in life as they were maybe 10 years ago. NCES found that there has been a decline in theater and dance in elementary schools, the percentages of schools making these art forms available went from 20 percent 10 years ago to only 4 and 3 percent, respectively, in the 2009-10 school year (Cameron Brenchley, 2012). What is most interesting is when researched more time is spent justifying why the arts education is needed in elementary schools, neglecting if you will, junior high schools, as well as high schools.
Young people who are exposed to the arts are well rounded when competing in society for jobs, and schools. For example, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), found a few major reasons to why young people are not succeeding in life as they were maybe 10 years ago. NCES found that there has been a decline in theater and dance in elementary schools, the percentages of schools making these art forms available went from 20 percent 10 years ago to only 4 and 3 percent, respectively, in the 2009-10 school year (Cameron Brenchley, 2012). What is most interesting is when researched more time is spent justifying why the arts education is needed in elementary schools, neglecting if you will, junior high schools, as well as high schools.
“Among all the fields of study in our schools, the arts are at the forefront in the celebration of diversity, individuality, and surprise: the possibilities for growth in and through the arts cease only when we do” (Eisner, The Arts and the Creation of Mind, 2002). When someone has experienced the arts they are never the same. Many experienced teachers and physicians have used the arts to challenge behavior issues displayed in children ranging from toddlers to teenagers. For example, art therapy is used as a new form to help people with their problems and emotions. According to, Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc.(ATCB), art therapy in which art is used to explore the emotional conflicts, behavior, social skills, and self-esteem of an individual.
The Arts Apprenticeship Training Program in Pittsburgh, is located in a very poor a crime-infested neighborhood. This particular place in Pittsburgh serves as a safe haven for young people who have, or may have not been corrupted by drugs, gang violence, teen pregnancy, or dropouts. Other who has made the great decision to use art as a form to deter inner-city youth from a life of woes includes the Boys Choir of Harlem. 98 percent of the members of the Boys choir of Harlem graduate from high school and go to college. Midnight Shakespeare program in San Francisco helps at-risk youth by allowing them to take on roles recreating Shakespeare. The Shakespeare program has a 90 percent retention rate, and has led to expansion in 16 other cities. There are also prisons, and jails that use art as a form to keep inmates, and juveniles in a more relax state, which creates a safer environment.
Arts programs have also helped inner-city youth find employment. The San Antonio Department of Arts and Educational Affairs created Urban smARTS. Urban smARTS take 11 to 13 year olds who are failing in school, using drugs, or apart of gang affiliations. Urban smARTS provides a safe place for them to express themselves and be creative, while helping them seek employment. Fulton County Arts Council created Art-at-Work, an arts education and job training program. This program is constructed for people ages 14 to 16 that have had troubles with the law. The youth of this program are paid $5 and an hour to learn how to be entrepreneurs.
The arts can save many a person if it was funded properly, and held in the same regards as recreational sports. A lot of people who are incarcerated either was in need of something or was an out of control individual. The chart below shows the number of juveniles and their cases in 27 states, in the year of 2010.
The Arts Apprenticeship Training Program in Pittsburgh, is located in a very poor a crime-infested neighborhood. This particular place in Pittsburgh serves as a safe haven for young people who have, or may have not been corrupted by drugs, gang violence, teen pregnancy, or dropouts. Other who has made the great decision to use art as a form to deter inner-city youth from a life of woes includes the Boys Choir of Harlem. 98 percent of the members of the Boys choir of Harlem graduate from high school and go to college. Midnight Shakespeare program in San Francisco helps at-risk youth by allowing them to take on roles recreating Shakespeare. The Shakespeare program has a 90 percent retention rate, and has led to expansion in 16 other cities. There are also prisons, and jails that use art as a form to keep inmates, and juveniles in a more relax state, which creates a safer environment.
Arts programs have also helped inner-city youth find employment. The San Antonio Department of Arts and Educational Affairs created Urban smARTS. Urban smARTS take 11 to 13 year olds who are failing in school, using drugs, or apart of gang affiliations. Urban smARTS provides a safe place for them to express themselves and be creative, while helping them seek employment. Fulton County Arts Council created Art-at-Work, an arts education and job training program. This program is constructed for people ages 14 to 16 that have had troubles with the law. The youth of this program are paid $5 and an hour to learn how to be entrepreneurs.
The arts can save many a person if it was funded properly, and held in the same regards as recreational sports. A lot of people who are incarcerated either was in need of something or was an out of control individual. The chart below shows the number of juveniles and their cases in 27 states, in the year of 2010.
There are many ways to support the arts. For example, Vh1’s Save the Music Foundation gives donations to music programs in need, as well as Americans for the Arts. There are a host of others who have created and introduced ways to make the arts foundations stay alive. One way I have planned to spread awareness about arts education and its benefits, is to create a booth that will provide pamphlets, CDs, and other things that will provide a system of knowledge for the common individual to understand.
In conclusion, arts education has and will continue to be a major component in the development of people across the world. This will take the work of many individuals, and the dedication of hard workers to continue the great works arts education has provided for centuries.
In conclusion, arts education has and will continue to be a major component in the development of people across the world. This will take the work of many individuals, and the dedication of hard workers to continue the great works arts education has provided for centuries.