As the richest nation on earth, how can we say and accept that there is insufficient funding for the arts? How can we say that we cannot afford – or are unwilling – to invest in unlocking our children’s full potential?
If we want a nation filled with the brightest engineers, mathematicians, scientists, critical thinkers and philosophers, then how can we ignore that the arts are genuinely interwoven in STEM disciplines? Together, arts and sciences create greater critical thinking skills, apply realism to STEM disciplines, and develop both left and right sides of the brain. Prioritizing the arts is essential, as they are an integral cog upon which all other areas of learning and achievement are built.
Why are we willing to accept mediocrity for our children? Arts create the richness that fulfills life. If we do not include arts as a fundamental part of their education, our children will lose out on the opportunity to learn how to paint, sing, dance or even play, let alone think critically.
We cannot say we value our youth when we do not sufficiently invest in them. By not fully investing in our youth’s education, by excluding the arts, we are essentially saying that they are not worthy of the highest, fullest, most comprehensive education they should be afforded. How can we, as a community, state, nation say that we care about our children if we continually dismiss abundantly investing in their comprehensive development?
The arts matter because they:
– Inherently create inclusivity, belonging, family and allow for freedom of expression. As a community and nation that is shouting for equity and inclusion, how can we not back the arts as a primary vehicle to achieve such a vision?
– Create students who test higher on academic and SAT exams. The arts not only improve academic performance; access to arts education also reduces poverty rates. If we care about improving on-time graduation rates, college access opportunities, and improving life’s prospects for all students, especially for our students of color, then why would we not invest in arts programs which would create these very opportunities.
– Improve attendance rates. Locally and nationally, we have a chronic epidemic of absenteeism. Students who participate in the arts are five times less likely to drop out of school. Lower dropout and absenteeism rates would improve on-time graduation rates, and increase college and post-secondary career and college readiness opportunities for all students.
As individuals and a nation hungering for identity and a deeper understanding of ourselves, our culture and our connectedness, the arts provide a space for healthy and constructive self-expression. The arts build confident voices to express our opinions, our most ardent wishes, and to shape the very fabric that weaves us together as one community.
If, as a nation, 91% of Americans agree that arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education, then why are our local, state and federal agencies unwilling to fully fund education to bring our collective vision to fruition? If we truly want to improve on-time graduation rates, create welcoming and inclusive learning environments, opportunities for all students, then we must put our money where our mouth is and invest in their bright futures.
— By Deborah Brandi, Executive Director
Foundation for Edmonds School District
ABSOLUTELY!!
Looking at history, it is the countries and cities who have encouraged the arts that provide us with inspiration and which we still admire and (sometimes) emulate. Athens, with its architecture, theater and philosophers; Florence at the center of the renaissance; Vienna, with Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler; Paris – to name a few. It is the arts that produce LASTING monuments to what we can aspire be and what we can achieve.
An arts education produces the artists of tomorrow, but also promotes a future audience for the arts, as well as making possible the self-realizations this article outlines.
Arts enrich life.
Thank you for brilliantly making the case for arts in education.
It is critical for personal growth and development to use both sides of the brain. The arts give developing children an opportunity to use both the left and right sides of the brain. Thank you Deborah for such an insightful commentary.
I totally agree with this article. As a former teacher, I have seen a shift toward a beige education that emphasizes the core curriculum of math, science, and language arts, the “tested” subjects, but places art, music, and even history in the background. Creating a work of art is problem solving. A child learns critical thinking skills by learning how to play an instrument or draw a landscape.
Statistics will reveal that school districts with strong arts programs and libraries also score well on state and national achievement tests.
Yes, it takes money, but investing in schools is investing in a community.
What a powerful and passionate piece, Deborah! You’ve hit the nail on the head regarding the arts being essential for unlocking children’s potential. It’s like trying to bake a cake without eggs—sure, you might have the flour and sugar, but where’s the fluffiness? It’s amazing how arts can elevate STEM to STEAM, fostering creativity alongside critical thinking. Who knew all that singing and dancing could actually make our future engineers and scientists more brilliant? Plus, I love the statistic that arts students are less likely to drop out—clearly, paintbrushes and passion trump homework struggles any day!