the importance of arts in education
DESCRIPTION
This talk concerning The Importance of Arts in Education was delivered at Westminster College on March 23, 2009. My personal favorite part of the talk was revealing the percentage of GNP the arts represent---a real sabot for that certain kind of philistine social (and economic) conservative who wants to crush arts funding in schools. For that individual, here's an economic argument that almost sounds like an artifact of some capitalist Utopia. Considering we don't produce much in the U.S. anymore---the legacy of Bretton-Woods---at least we still export the arts.TRANSCRIPT
Art in Education
Jeffrey Gold
March 23, 2009
The Importance of
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What is Art?
Art is an intellectual construct that gives rise to a positive emotional response when
created with the correct intention.
Eli Khamarov
2
The Arts
• Hear
• Music
• See
• Painting
• Photography
• Film
• Taste & Smell
• Culinary
• Touch
• Ballet
• Dance
• Speak
• Poetry
• Think
• Sciences
• Engineering
3
Arguments Against
Lack of Funding
Not Important
Detracts from Fundamentals
Liberal Agenda
4
Arguments Against
• Students given wrong impression of working in the Arts as an economically unsustainable endeavor
• “You can make a fortune, but you can’t make a living.”
5
Arguments For
The arts embody the most profoundly central task of all education—
the nuanced development of mind.
European League of Institutes of the Arts
6
The Arts helps students achieve in the arts and in other academic disciplines
• The arts have a special potential for engaging all students.
• The traditional practices of the arts can improve teaching and learning in all areas.
7
The Arts prepare students for the workplace
• high standards
• analytical thinking
• creative thinking
• innovation
• practice
The arts demand:
• discipline
• teamwork
• persistence
• follow-through
• product delivery
8
America’s ability tocompete internationally
• Other countries ensure their students develop mental and emotional capabilities
9
How are we doing right now?
• $10,418 expended per student 50 million students, $519 billion dollars
• Scientific Literacy (2006)
• 486/1000 Phenomena (26/46)
• 489/1000 Scientific Reasoning (26/46)
• Mathematics (2006)
• 474/1000 (Rank: 32/53)
10
pART of the United States economy
• 6% of GNP
• Positive trade balance
• Local economies
11
Art brings parents to schools
• Exhibit student works
• Showcase student performancesArtwork (c) Pily Torres
12
Lack of Funding
• Federal and State Government funding is dwindling
13
Thank you
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