An Argument for Arts in Education

1000 Words4 Pages
As educators we have the power to grant our students access to the highest of human achievements: Art. The text addresses several important benefits for students. Among them are the facts that “art helps students to learn to adapt to, work with, and respect others (p 44). Perhaps one of the most important things to note about art is that anyone can do art, since there is no right or wrong way to complete a task. It provides a stage for building self esteem. Educators can also integrate art into a variety of subjects to enhance students understanding of difficult subject matter. Art is equally beneficial to educators. As teachers, we can provide students with an alternative to the traditional paper pencil test or assignment. Lastly, art serves as a language of expression for all individuals.
Art allows students to be creative in any way they chose, whether it be through dance, art, poetry or song; students are able to show their unique talents. Art also helps children relate to their peers and encourage acceptance. Students can work together to create a mural or the scenery for a classroom play. The most important thing to remember about art is that any child can participate and there is no right or wrong answer to an assignment. A teacher might ask students to draw a picture of a house and he/she could receive 23 different pictures and every one of them would be correct. This example shows how art sets a stage for building self esteem. “Learning becomes more enjoyable, even magical, as students share their works and ideas. Increased use of the arts can raise the self-esteem of struggling students, thereby making them more successful” (p 21).
Art does not just serve as a form of communication for English language learners or others who can’t adequately tell a story. Teachers offer bilingual and limited English students more freedom to work with ideas and express
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