The importance of arts education in Secondary Education cannot be understated. It helps students explore their talents and fosters teamwork and collaboration. It improves students’ emotional balance, makes them team players, and helps them learn to accept mistakes when they’re working in groups. Moreover, the arts can help students achieve academic success. This article will highlight the reasons why arts education is important for secondary school students. So, let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Arts education provides a safe space for students to explore their talents
High school students benefit from arts education programs that allow them to take courses in a variety of arts disciplines and to reach proficiency levels in specific art forms. Yearlong courses in these disciplines prepare students for further study in the art after high school. Additionally, high school students can choose to take specialized courses, such as Advanced Placement, to prepare them for postsecondary education in the arts or pursue careers in the arts.
The arts offer a platform for diverse cultural and social issues. Through visual arts, students can engage with people from diverse backgrounds and learn about different socioeconomic levels. Students can also develop empathy by learning about different cultures and gaining insight into the everyday struggles of people who may appear to be different from themselves. These lessons develop students’ ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds, and they learn that we share more in common than we have differences.
When arts are integrated into the curriculum, the arts become more than just a classroom activity. They serve as an effective vehicle for learning and teaching. Through the creative process, students meet dual learning objectives and make connections between one subject area and another. The arts-enhanced curriculum uses theater as a tool to teach social studies. For example, dramatizations provide an authentic context for social studies content, impacting students’ growing understanding of the class content.
Supporting professional learning for arts educators is important to the success of arts programs. However, it can be difficult to provide effective professional learning to an arts educator, especially if the training is geared toward the needs of other subjects. The training should address underlying arts pedagogies, foundational skills, and authentic creative processes. A learning culture fosters deep learning and promotes student engagement.
Authentic art learning is only possible when the program has been well-planned and implemented. Effective arts education programs are inclusive, rigorous, and thoughtfully implemented to meet the requirements of all students. With continuous evaluation and support from the community, arts education programs are effective at developing creative citizens. And it is important to note that arts standards-based arts education programs are delivered by credentialed and prepared teachers and supported by state-approved guidelines.
It helps students achieve academically
A report released in 2002 compared the effects of arts education on academic performance to social and technical knowledge. Students who were exposed to the arts were shown to demonstrate enhanced social, analytical, and expressive skills. Furthermore, arts education improved students’ self-esteem and overall wellbeing. However, this study found that the benefits of arts education are not universal. While many studies show that students can benefit from learning about specific art forms, they all show some benefits.
Research shows that art in secondary education fosters group learning and collaboration. Art teaches kids to collaborate with each other and build teamwork. The experience of collaborating with others improves motor skills, and children learn to accept mistakes. These are all qualities that are useful in many different fields. In addition to fostering creativity, art education also improves students’ academic performance and improves their attitudes. However, the benefits of art education extend beyond these positive effects.
Evidence suggests that students who study the arts have fewer disciplinary incidents than those who do not. In the U.S., students score significantly lower than those in Asia and Europe. This has led to pressure on schools to improve math performance without compromising art education. However, this does not mean that art education should be neglected. It is vital for student wellbeing and academic success. In fact, art education is necessary to improve academic performance in every area of life, from reading and writing to mathematics.
There is growing attention to the benefits of arts in secondary education. One study suggests that arts education helps students develop the ability to envision. Students who study the arts are better able to generate ideas for science and social studies. In history class, for instance, they can visualize past events. Art helps engage children who would otherwise not have access to academics. This article explores how arts education benefits at-risk youth.
Some studies indicate that students who are involved in the arts perform better on standardized tests than those who do not. However, it’s important to note that correlation does not equal causation. Regardless of which way you look at it, arts education can improve students’ behavior and school climate. The benefits of art education are worth pursuing. So, take advantage of the arts in your school and make your students better citizens.
Art improves graduation rates
According to an Alliance for Excellent Education report, arts education positively impacts high school graduation rates. Increasing graduation rates in high schools would mean reduced government spending and higher tax revenues. Additionally, a 90 percent graduation rate would mean 65,150 new jobs and $7.2 billion in annual earnings. Regardless of what you believe about the benefits of arts education, it’s obvious. Currently, 29 states have defined art as an essential academic subject.
A recent study from New York public schools revealed a positive correlation between arts education and higher graduation rates. It found that the arts were most beneficial in schools with the highest graduation rates and lowest dropout rates. The study also revealed that many at-risk students cited the arts as the main reason for staying in school and completing their education. Among other benefits, arts education helps students improve their visual analysis skills, learn from their mistakes, and develop better critical judgments.
Studies have shown that arts education benefits both educators and students. A report analyzing 12 schools in four states found that students who attended schools with an art education had higher critical thinking scores, happier teachers, and were more cooperative and expressive. Furthermore, students who attended high-quality art schools had better relationships with educators. Higher education in the art could also help students with special needs and remedial programs. A recent AEP update also confirmed the importance of arts education in high schools.
If you’re wondering why arts education is so important for secondary education, look no further than the Rand Corporation study. The report notes that students who participate in art programs show increased civic engagement. Arts students with higher arts involvement also demonstrated more civic-minded behavior, including higher participation in national elections and volunteer activities. The study also found that students from low-income families were more likely to pursue a bachelor’s degree, which was a major benefit of arts education for these students.
Students and teachers benefit from an art climate in high schools. Research shows that students with strong art education programs do better in math and reading than those who don’t. The impact is even greater when the arts curriculum is paired with a liberal arts education course. In addition to students, arts education improves teachers’ morale. And it increases graduation rates, too. There are many other benefits to having a strong arts climate in secondary schools.
It increases access to arts education
While the importance of providing quality arts instruction in secondary schools cannot be denied, the need to balance competing priorities in the educational setting must be considered. While students must not be pulled from their courses due to competing priorities, arts learning cannot be compromised for the sake of remedial or English language instruction. In California, for example, it is illegal to deny participation to English learners in required courses and graduation requirements. This is why the dedicated protected time for arts education should be prioritized.
Arts education has positively impacted students’ social and cognitive development. According to a 2009 RAND CORPORATION report, arts education is essential for improving community cohesion and achieving a well-rounded education. Studies show that students with low socioeconomic status often receive a limited education in the arts and may benefit from a more diverse educational experience. It has also been found that arts education improves visual analysis skills and fosters greater critical judgment.
The arts have long been viewed as essential for the development of a well-rounded education. According to a 2002 report, higher arts education participation was associated with fewer discipline problems and increased graduation rates. Students who received more arts education also had higher test scores in mathematics and communication. In Missouri, art students have a strong desire to pursue postsecondary education and online colleges. This demand for arts education in secondary schools has prompted the creation of online colleges in Maryland.
Increasing the number of time students spend in the arts has many benefits for students and teachers. In a study of 12 schools in four states, high arts education students had higher scores in critical thinking and more positive relationships with educators. This study supports the idea that art instruction should be included in all secondary school curriculums. Therefore, ensuring access to arts education in secondary education is crucial for students to become better citizens.
There are multiple approaches to expanding arts education in secondary education, but no single model will work in every district. By identifying gaps and removing barriers to sequential learning, the arts can be made available to all students. These practices are largely rooted in the needs and preferences of the communities that offer them education. They can be adopted by LEAs and implemented in schools, which will increase the opportunities for student achievement in the arts.