Alexandra Safran

Mrs. Cramer

Comp. Pd. 7

7 December 2018

Arts Education: Elevating Education

Of the American public that was polled, 92% believed that the arts are an essential part of

education, a number that is only rising (Ruppert, 5). The arts, which for the sake of this essay

include music, drama, dance, and visual art— drawing, painting, etc.—, are available in some

aspect in nearly every school in America (United). Dating back to even ancient time, the

philosopher and teacher Plato believed that the arts were needed for a well-rounded and thorough

education (Bryant). These classes foster creativity and individual thinking that is otherwise

largely untaught in schools, with some exceptions. Critics to an arts rich education argue that

fine arts classes take time away from more useful career and core classes. Another argument is

that the arts do not help students in other classes. Whether or not the benefits outweigh the

negatives is a hot topic, especially when discussions to do with the No Child Left Behind Act are

brought up, and how schools are given grants. In many places across the country, emphasis is put

on core classes and in doing so takes away from arts programs. As a result, many organizations

have been funded to give support to fine arts in schools; by just searching for “arts education”

one can find a handful quite quickly such as Americans for the Arts and Arts Education

Partnership (AEP). Arts education is essential for a well-rounded and first-class education

because it teaches students about cultural and social acceptance and also because it offers

students the unique opportunity to grow creatively.

 Firstly, the arts teach students about culture and encourages cultural and social

acceptance. One teacher described teaching the arts as teaching students about society (Harland,

92)1. By looking towards drama, one can easily see how social understanding and awareness can

be learned. This is done by forcing students to put themselves in the shoes of the characters they

are to play, which often have different backgrounds than them. Cultural awareness is being

taught through exposing students to arts from all across the globe and from all different eras

(Harland, 89). Every time a painting is studied, or an artist’s style is mimicked, students are

learning more about different cultures and their history. Learning the history behind cultures and

different events that have occurred also tends to create a more socially tolerant adult. This

understanding of different cultures and how they influence each other could also help students

find similarities between themselves, their peers, and people that are part of other cultures.

Another major benefit of the arts is that art helps students learn how to make sense of the world.

Studying the arts “helps students to see what they look at, hear what they listen to, and feel what

they touch” (Bryant). By being exposed to different social and cultural elements through art,

students are being encouraged to be more accepting, along with having an increased

understanding of the world around them.

On the other hand, an argument against the art education is that they are not necessarily

tied to higher grades in other subjects. When the debate over the importance of arts classes first

started to become frequently talked about, studies were done to try to prove their importance in a

student’s schedule. In the most obvious way they could find, they linked arts education with

higher grades in core subjects. The issue with this is that there is no certain way to tell if the arts

attract students who would do well in these areas regardless, or if the arts classes are improving

1Ethos- by using sources that are being influenced by people who would have knowledge on the
topic, in this case a drama teacher, I am making myself more credible as a writer.
the students in these areas (Greene). While this must be considered when debating the

importance of art, it is also important to understand that studies have suggested that the arts are

still connected to “better students.” Studies that were done have even linked students that are

taking arts classes to be more likely to graduate, be elected into student council offices, or be

more likely to be awarded for school achievement. According to one study that was done,

students enrolled in arts programs are four times more likely to be given an award for attendance,

and three times more likely to become elected for student office (Lynch) 2. It might be true that

these studies show that there is little evidence to support that being involved in that arts is

helping students in other subjects, but that does not mean that the arts are not needed for a well-

rounded education or that the arts are not in some way affiliated with being a “better students”.

Next, having fine arts in a student’s schedule teaches creativity and individuality. It’s also

enjoyable because no two people will see the same thing in the same way (Harland, 28).

Individuality is taught in virtually no other subject besides art. One teacher that was surveyed

expressed how he/she saw the arts as a way for students to use creativity to develop a new way

of thinking, or a new world inside their own head (Harland, 27). This could prove to be

important as children grow and become part of a mechanized job landscape. In the near future, it

might be that to set one’s self apart from the rest, one must think creatively— and in a way,

humanly— to secure jobs that machines, and computers, are simply not capable of doing. By

exposing students to art, schools are helping to develop more creative adults and foster

individuality.

On the contrary, another argument against the arts is that they take time away from other

classes that are more beneficial. It’s true that arts classes take time away what could be a core or

2 Logos- by using facts (numbers) I have strengthened my argument as a writer.

career class; this does not mean, however, that it is a waste of school time. Multiple students

have explained how arts classes improve their mood (Harland, 32). Having a mood lifter during

the day can help students throughout the day making school more enjoyable, and in doing so

create a more positive association with school for students. This positive association may even

lead to students applying themselves to other classes more which may lead to higher grades and

more participation in school activities, though this is not necessarily proven. In addition to this,

having knowledge of the arts could also help students later on in their professional life—for

example: an architect would use their knowledge on perspective drawing when they draw up the

first sketches of a potential project. Rather than being a “waste of time,” arts classes are actually

beneficial for students to have during the day and also could aid them later on in their career.

In conclusion, arts education is needed for a well-rounded and first-class education

because it teaches students about cultural and social acceptance and offers the unique

opportunity to grow creatively. Arts education creates adults that are culturally and socially

aware. This awareness, along with the added benefit of having a better developed creativity and

individuality, creates better citizens. Given all this, is it any surprise that 92% of the population

believes arts education is needed for a good education?3

3Rhetorical question- I asked a question for the sole purpose of bringing attention to the fact that
my argument lines up with what a majority think.
Alexandra Safran

Mrs. Cramer

English Comp I Pd. 7

7 December 2018

Works Cited

Bryant, Bob. “The Importance of Fine Arts Education.” Katyisd.org. KatyISD. n.d. Web. 21 Sept.

2018

Greene, Jay P. Art Education Matters: We Know It, We Measured It. Education Week, 2014. Web.

21 Sept. 2018

Harland, John, Kay Kinder, Pippa Lord, Allison Stott, Ian Schagen, Jo Haynes. Arts Education in

Secondary Schools: Effects and Effectiveness. National Foundation for Educational

Research. 2000. Web. 20 Sept. 2018.

Lynch, Robert L. “Make Art, Transform Lives: The Importance of Art Education.”

educationandcareernews.com. Media Planet. n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2018.

Ruppert, Sandra S. Critical Evidence: How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement.

Files.eric.ed.gov. National Assembly of States Art Assembly, 2006. Web. 21 Sept. 2018.

United States. Dept. of Education. Secretary of Education. “Prepared Remarks of U.S. Secretary

of Education Arne Duncan on the Report, "Arts Education in Public Elementary and

Secondary Schools: 2009-10"” US Department of Education. Dept. Of Education, April.

2012. Web. 21 Sept. 2018