The Importance of Being Artistic

Skye Montoya

Definition of Artnoun-

the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance (dictionary.com).

Art is not just painting or drawing; it involves much more.

Arts Benefit Students in Immense Ways.They improve academic success.They teach social and communication skills.They better a student’s overall disposition.Students should have the opportunity to

participate freely in art programs in school.

Improved Academic Performance•Arts challenge students to look at problems in different ways, developing a higher level of critical thinking.

•“The arts don’t focus on right and wrong” (Phillips).

•This type of thinking will set art students apart from their peers.

•2005 study showed correlation between participating in an art class and SAT scores (Critical evidence).

Number of years in an Arts Course

SAT Verbal Score

SAT Math Score

4 years or more

534 540

4 years 543 5413 years 514 5162 years 508 5171 year 501 5151/2 year or less

485 502

SAT Average Scores

508 520

(Ruppert)

Stronger Social SkillsArt is an expression of one’s ideas, beliefs

and thoughts. Children learn to take criticism and use it to

better their work. Public speaking-type art teaches students to

better communicate their thoughts to other people, which colleges and employers admire.

Improved Disposition“Certain brain areas respond only to music… Drama

provokes specialized networks that focus on spoken language and stimulate emotions. Visual arts excite the internal visual processing system to recall reality or create fantasy” (Sousa).

“And the night shall be filled with music, And the cares, that infest the day, Shall fold their tents, life the Arabs, And as silently steal away” (Longfellow).

“Music is the sound of creation… Music is the voice of worship, music lifts our hearts above. Music is our common language, music is the song of love” (Martin).

Eternal Ballet

No Child Left Behind“No Child Left Behind reaffirms the arts as a

‘core academic subject’ that all schools should teach” (Ruppert).

Schools should not force children to participate, but they should offer various programs for children to choose from.

Schools should have just as much respect/value for art programs as they do for sports.

Art is a Valuable ResourceArt clearly improves several aspects of a

student’s life.Parents and teachers should encourage

children to participate in art programs.Art should be preserved for future

generations.

Bibliography “art.” dictionary.reference.com. Dictionary.com, LLC. 2014. Web. 27 Feb.

2014.

“FRCC Art Treasures on Display at the RCC.” Frccusa, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2014.

Fyodorov, Daniil and Maria Fyodorova. Eternal Ballet. 2001. Oil on canvas. Russian Cultural Centre, Russia.

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “The Day is Done.” Poetry Foundation. 2014. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.

Martin, Joseph M. Come to the Music. Malcolm Music, 2001. Print. 20 Feb. 2014.

Phillips, Lisa. “6 Reasons That The Arts Are The Ideal Vehicle To Teach 21st Century Success Skills.” The Artistic Edge, 2013. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.

Ruppert, Sandra S. “Critical Evidence How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement.” The National Assembly of State Art Agencies, Inc. 2006. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.

Sousa, David A. “How the Arts Develop the Young Brain.” AASA. n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.