Art plays an important role in the school system, and this article gives information on why it is necessary. Adults have the ability to understand delayed gratification, while children do not. Children are unable to break down problems, and use their frustrations to move them forward to their goals. Siegel points out this is a misconception of maturity. She states delayed gratification is a learned behavior that is instilled early in childhood. It is very important children are taught problem solving skills. Children with outstanding IQs fall behind without these skills because they need immediate gratification. Siegel mentions Barack Obama's request for increased Head Start programs, especially in poverty stricken cities. She strongly believes in order to maintain a successful head start, a child will need art. According to Siegel, art will help maintain and strengthen the program because problem solving is a “natural function of the art process” (Siegel). Without art, it is believed it can affect the child in later years. Real-life choices are better prepared for through art-making. Unlike math and sciences, there are no definite answers to art, since it is open-ended. Since the world is full of constantly changing answers, it is important visual art continues along with dance, theater, and music.
I feel strongly about art staying in schools. The article makes sense, and poses excellent points as to why art is needed. Children need to be better prepared for the real world. They need to understand they are not protected by a school's decisions throughout life. Children will need to utilize their education, but also will need social skills for outside the classroom. They will need to understand how to interact with different types of people, and they will have to be responsible to make the correct choices. Their decisions can have a major impact on which path they decide to take. I think instant gratification is something that is often given to children because it is sometimes easier than the process of walking them through patience. A child cannot understand to utilize his or her frustrations to get ahead on his or her own. They need to be taught problem-solving skills, and art-making can assist them with it. Art also gives a child the ability to explore and think outside the box. I think it will help them learn and understand that everything is not always black and white. They will see that sometimes there is more than one way to look at things. In a classroom setting there could be open discussions on projects, and this will help the kids build their communication skills.
Art-making will help children create something, and they will understand through their projects, that certain steps need to be taken to get to a finished product. This can be applied to everyday issues they may come across. The class will not only see a finished product but they will be part of it, whether in a group or individually. Some children may be able to communicate through their art, music, and drama. Kids will also see that there may be multiple solutions to issues, and they will be able to figure out which one is best. Art-making will assist Barack Obama in succeeding in his Head Start programs, and it will continue throughout the child's life. Siegel states the art process is a “natural function” and I agree. I think people are born creative and learn to criticize themselves. Instilling the knowledge of art in a child gives them creativity and endless possibilities beyond book smarts alone.
I strongly believe in maintaining liberal arts in the school system. I feel it helps provide a well rounded education, and it gives the opportunity to explore a different aspect of education. In this article it explains how art-making assists in decision making. Children should not miss out on opportunities, and without art, they could not only miss out on the experience, but also their future may be more difficult than necessary. Better decision making would help a child be responsible for his or her actions, and he or she would better understand how to cope with issues in everyday life. I was unaware that art went beyond understanding how create to something and learning a different end of education.
After reading this article, I would hope that the importance of the arts would be understood by more people. The educational value goes beyond how many perceive it. I understand fully that we need math, science, and literature for an education, but I also believe without the arts, a child is not given a fair education. It is important for them to not only to have liberal arts included in their education, but it will help them later in life as well. I also believe that art opens people up, and everyone can benefit from it. I remember learning that at at young age, a child is not aware of how things should be when they are involved in creating a work of art. When the child gets older they are more aware of his or her surroundings and the criticism that could be given among peers. They become concerned with the look of their piece, whether or not it looks like an identifiable object or not. I think it would be wonderful to instill creativity so the child does not lose this later in life. I also believe some children would be able to express themselves in this way, similar how it has been used in art therapy. It would help children communicate in a different way. I would love to see liberal arts becoming more important in education. It should not be the first thing cut from schools, it is an integral part of education. Arts and education is not only proof to help in creativity, but the child's future as well. I would not want to take that away from anyone.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/11/03/10siegel.h30.html
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