Why Teach Art?

"Why teach Art?".... Okay, this seems like a logical question, since some of you may already be wondering this, and if you're not, I know there are people out there who are!

In these days of "not enough time or money to teach all the things things that need to be taught", why should Art make the cut? Why should our already limited resources be further divided to provide instruction in Art? What long term value does Art have for the majority of kids who will not grow up to be "artists" as adults? Well, I have some thoughts about that!

Studying Art prepares a child for so much more than just becoming an "artist"! It's benefits are many, but I'll give you just a few, not in any particular order....

1. Art is cross-curricular, with opportunities to tie in history, geography, math, science, social studies, language arts and music. If you look carefully at any good Art lesson, you will find ways to connect it to other areas of the curriculum. This reinforces learning and helps kids develop the ability to make other connections on their own.

2. Art helps kids to learn critical thinking and problem solving skills. A good Art lesson will allow a student freedom to make lots of individual choices along the way, thereby yielding projects where "no two look alike". The artist's skills of analysis, problem solving, invention and reflection are the same thought processes used by today's great thinkers, inventors and leaders.

3. Art develops other important skills like eye-hand coordination, dexterity, organization, focus and the ability to follow sequential steps.

4. Art helps students gain confidence. For some kids, it may be the only thing they feel they're really good at, and the one thing in their school day that they look forward to. For every student, Art is a means of self-expression and another way to communicate with and respond to the world around them. When taught well, every child can experience success in Art.

5. Art is fun!!! In all my years of teaching Art, I think I can count on one hand the number of students who didn't enjoy Art. That's a pretty good success story!

So, are you convinced yet? I could go on listing the benefits of teaching Art, but if this gets much longer, no one will read it! I may be "preaching to the choir" but I thought this was an important question to address before I get into the more specific "how-to's"!