Creative thinking needs a place in the classroom.
Take Charge of Education and Bring Back the Arts!
By Vickie L. VanHurley, Ph.D.
While looking through my local suburban newspaper a several weeks ago, an advertisement caught my attention. The headline read: “Help Ridge High School”. The following blurb was informing readers that this high school is in need of sponsors for their fine arts program. Seriously?! I realize art programs in the K-12 curriculum have steadily been on the decline. However, I didn’t realize the level of desperation to keep art programs afloat in the K-12 curriculum. As an artist, designer, and design professor, my immediate question while reading this was how did we get here? The answer: the No child Left Behind initiative (NCLB). NCLB has birthed a curriculum with a heavy emphasis on standardized test scores. Visit No Child Left Behind Overview for insight on NCLB. Although NCLB has been replaced with Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the community has to “step up” and clean up the rubble left behind. NCLB and standardized test scores erased the importance of creative thinking, or problem-solving skills.
The purpose of education used to be to prepare students to be successful contributors to society—the next entrepreneur, CEO, doctor, educator, lawyer, artist, playwright, director, author, scientist, musician, inventor, and even president. NCLB failed to cultivate creative thinking. The number one skill employers are looking for in 2022 is creative problem-solving and innovation, in other words, creative thinking! So, where does the clean up begin? It begins with getting art back into our students academic and daily lives by any means necessary!
Art = Smart.
Research has shown children participating in a minimum of 3 hours of artistic activity a week improves creative and analytical skills; increases attention, memory and speaking skills; and improves standardized test scores. Richard Kessler, Executive Director for the Center for Arts Education New York City states, “In fact, plenty of research shows that children who spend time in school doing visual art, performing music or dance, or even acting in a play gain a whole set of creative and analytical skills that are quickly disappearing from the rest of the curriculum.” With many K-12 curriculums across the nation operating under the NCLB initiative how is it possible that our children are behind? Reports show 9 countries consistently outperform the United States in reading and math. Of the 9 countries Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, and Finland require a curriculum with extensive education in the arts without diminishing another curriculum. It seems obvious art education is extremely important for competing globally. It puzzles me why art education is being ignored, poorly funded, or erased.
Art is a Lifesaver.
In addition to improving creative, analytical, attention, memory, and speaking skills art education can save a life. I started my teaching career with teaching studio courses at my hometown art museum. During my third teaching term I encountered a very quiet, troubled yet talented student. He proved to be my biggest challenge every week. This student successfully completed the term. A few years later I received my class roster and noticed this same student enrolled. I began to prepare myself for the challenge. The first day of class this student was pleasant, engaged, respectful and talented. I started to think I had confused this student with the one from my past class. After 2-3 weeks into the class, I privately asked this student if he was the same student I had a few years ago. He replied yes. I immediately asked what brought about his transformation. He shared with me that during our first encounter he was involved with individuals known for gang activity and it was coming to art class that allowed him (for the first time) to see options in his life. He made his decision to change his current direction through attending art class. It was at this very moment I truly understood the power of art education and the personal development it brings. Art education provides methods that promote self-expression, self-esteem, pride, creative problem-solving, and a sense of community. Art education may be absent from the formal K-12 curriculum but it doesn’t have to be absent from the lives of students. When I reflect on this situation, I often think about the quote “be the change you want to see in the world.” I understood this quote as “don’t wait for someone to create change…YOU create the change!”
Create the Clean-up.
Although education leaders have renewed their commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM subjects), it is not enough! The President reiterates “a world-class STEM workforce is essential to virtually every goal we have as a nation: economic prosperity, international competitiveness, a strong national defense, a clean energy future, and longer healthier lives for all Americans.” The emphasis on STEM curriculum isn’t enough to cultivate critical thinkers and problem-solvers, especially in underrepresented communities. The arts MUST reclaim its position in educating our students.
Historically it has been proven a challenge to reinstate programs removed from the public K-12 curriculum especially without funding. Let’s start where we are, the community. Art education doesn’t have to happen in a formal classroom. Artists in the community can offer workshops or classes at a community center, church, library, or public park. We must introduce the act of creating to our students and the sooner the better! Early in my career I taught an art class for children as young as age three. We can’t wait for someone to create the change. As artists, we can grow, cultivate this initiative with fund raisers and donations. As a middle school art educator, I self-funded my art program (6th-8th grade) for the entire school year with fund raisers and donations. We the artist, parents, and the community must ignite the fire that the arts are important to the future of our children, community, and our country. We can’t make the education decision makers care about the arts if we don’t show them art is worth caring about.