The Importance of Art in Education Why the “No Child Left Behind Act” is not all good

The “No Child Left Behind Act” The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States federal law that reauthorizes a number of federal programs that aim to improve the performance of U.S.'s primary and secondary schools by increasing the standards of accountability for states, school districts and schools, as well as providing parents more flexibility in choosing which schools their children will attend. Additionally, it promotes an increased focus on reading and re-authorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). NCLB is the latest federal legislation which enact the theories of standards- based education reform, formerly known as outcome-based education which is based on the belief that high expectations and setting of goals will result in success for all students In other words it has put the focus of a child’s education on achieving in standardized testing

The Negative The act has made it virtually impossible to think seriously about including arts in the curricula Most of the attention now is put toward the core classes so that the students can excel in standardized testing Teachers are being judged on how well they emphasize performance on standardized tests Giving them less of an opportunity to focus on what the student really needs to learn and making everything about what they need to know for the tests

Why schools are against including more arts Additional training may be needed for the teachers to include more art into their lesson plans when there is no money or effort available to give them such training If teachers start changing their lesson plans to include arts and music exercises it would take too much time away from teaching the core curriculum

Including arts would actually improve test scores Students who study the arts generally have higher grades and score better on standardized tests They also have better attendance records and are more active in community affairs Students who had arts education tend to achieve higher SAT scores than those who haven’t

Why arts are good for children When a child learns to draw and see through their “visual alphabet” there is a dramatic increase in letter recognition and the willingness to read It is easier for a child to learn about other cultures through their artwork, music, and literature Arts lead to an increased interest in historical and geographical topics

Art helps the development of the human brain “New neural connections that make it possible for us to learn and remember and problem-solve and create can continue to form throughout life, particularly when human beings are in environments that are positive, nurturing, stimulating and that encourage action and interaction. Such environments are opposite from dull, boring, rigid environments in which students are the passive recipients of information. Well designed arts programs provide just the kind of environments that [students thrive in].” Marian Diamond, Neuroscientist

Arts improve children’s behavior Using arts to teach academic subjects results in improved understanding of the content and greatly improves regular behavior Art allows students to express thoughts, feeling, and hopes It helps children to feel good about the world and about themselves

Arts Gives Confidence A student who participates regularly in the arts develops self- esteem and confidence because of their ability to accomplish something that they enjoy and that satisfies them They see themselves as capable of doing work that is personally satisfying and publicly acknowledged

More Positives for Art It encourages teamwork in children Improves focus and persistence Builds a strong work ethic Provides an avenue for students to express themselves Assists them in becoming creative thinkers

Art is important for a child’s future Children who study the arts demonstrate stronger overall academic performance The nation’s top business executive agree that arts education programs can help prepare workers for the twenty- first century Children involved in the arts are creative thinkers that employers need in our increasingly complex workforce

“There are far more important reasons for schools to provide children with an education in the arts. Quite simply, the arts are the ways we human beings “talk” to ourselves and to each other. They are the language of civilization through which we express our fears, our anxieties, our curiosities, our hungers, our discoveries, and our hopes. They are the universal ways by which we humans still play make-believe, conjuring up worlds that explain the ceremonies of our lives. The arts are not just important; they are a central force in human existence.”

Works Cited  Arts Education Master Plan: More Reasons for The Importance of Art Education. Dept. home page San Francisco: Unified School District. 19 Apr  Beldon Russonello & Stewart: Research and Communications. “III. Detailed Findings.” To Educate the Whole Child, Integrate the Arts: A Report on National Public Opinion Research Apr Path: SurveyReport.doc. Conducted for The Ford Foundation and Douglas Gould & Company  “The Benefits of Arts Education.” Americans for the Arts Apr  Dickinson, Dee. “What Do We Mean by Arts Education?” Learning Through the Arts Seattle, WA: New Horizons for Learning, Apr  Fowler, Charles, D.M.A. “Every Child Needs the Arts.” Creating the Future: Perspectives on Educational Change Comp. Dee Dickinson. Seattle, WA: New Horizons for Learning, Apr.-May  Goodheart, Christine. A Case for the Arts in Education. Seattle, WA: New Horizons for Learning, Apr  The National PTA, and The Getty Center for Education in the Arts. Be An Arts Advocate. Manchester, CT: The National PTA, Apr  Wikipedia. 13 Nov Path: /wiki/No_Child_Left_Behind.