Many people think of art as just an elective part of school. But research is proving that artistic studies help lay the groundwork for better education in many other areas from reading to problem solving.
Theresa Otteson is the Education Coordinator at Bountiful Davis Art Center and shares some of the ways art can lay the foundation for the rest of your child’s education.
This information was taken from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, Reinvesting in Arts Education, Winning America’s Future Through Creative Schools. You can find this report at www.pcah.gov
· Low-income students who are involved in the arts are more likely than their peers who are not, to attend college, have a career and volunteer in their community.
· A U.S. Department of Justice study found that students participating in arts programs were less likely to use drugs, be involved in delinquent behavior, had increased self-esteem and more positive interactions with others.
· Students who learned through art-integrated programs (cross-curriculum) are less likely to express boredom and show more interest in independent learning.
· Music training helps the development of phonological awareness, an important predictor of reading skills.
· Children who practice an art form develop better attention and improved intelligence.
· Links have been found between music training and better working and long-term memory.
The above are some of the conclusions from the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. This report is a compilation of research studies about how art programs are related to academic outcomes and how schools can use the arts to help children foster academic learning and creativity. Findings show that children involved in the arts, across income levels, perform better in school academically and socially, are more likely to go to college, have careers and be involved in their community. They are better able to focus, which leads to improvement in other cognitive domains and have better working and long-term memory.
The Platform in Support of the Arts stated:
“To remain competitive in the global economy, America needs to reinvigorate the kind of creativity and innovation that has made this country great. To do so, we must nourish our children’s creative skills. in addition to giving our children the science and math skill they need to compete in the new global context, we should also encourage the ability to think creatively that comes from a meaningful arts education. Unfortunately, many school districts are cutting instructional time for art and music education.
For more information on art classes and ways to expose your family to art, visit http://www.bdac.org/
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