Reading Reaction for April 21, 2009

I am so glad that we have finally read an article about arts education. Since I am a music education major this subject was very dear and near to my heart. I feel that it is important for all children to receive an education in the arts. I liked the author’s stance of active learning. So many people see arts education as a frivolous thing in school. They see children going to art, music, dance, and theatre class as something fun that students do. They don’t seem to understand that these things take discipline and just as much hard work to master than any other subject. When I was in elementary school the arts classes in my school were just for fun, you know a release from the more academic subjects. However this has changed tremendously. Today, arts education instruction in universities stresses the importance of teaching the arts in a more academic way. Arts education in schools now teaches more theory and skill than before so it truly is an academic subject. I was really glad that the author made the point that an education in the arts made a student better in the normal academic classes. Music students especially do better in Math and English. This may not seem likely to you but music does involve a lot of math dealing with rhythm and interpretation in the reading of lyrics. Research has shown students who are more involved in the arts perform better in more traditional academic subjects. If we know this why do we not push arts education more? Why do we not see arts education as important? I feel the answer to these questions is exactly what the author suggests. Most people do not see how the arts relate to their everyday life. People do not understand that arts education can open their minds, broaden their horizons, and make them more intellectual beings. To be truly educated is not only to know Math, Science, English, and History, it also involves the arts. I hope that arts education will become a central part of our education system.