Arts Education Reflection

Teaching the group project on arts education was personally interesting for several reasons. The arts didn’t play a large role in my own education, thus, it was very interesting to learn about the topic and realize that I do place importance on that aspect of education despite my own lack of exposure. Furthermore, the arts play a large role in my field placement through music classes that the students participate in. I’ve observed many of the benefits that are produced through engagement in the arts, so I think it is important to learn about these benefits, how the arts are utilized within schools and how funding and other inequalities can affect which students are able to fully engage in the arts. This lesson plan includes these topics through …show more content…
The readings will contrast each other in order to offer different perspectives on the issue. Two of the readings discuss the benefits of an arts education especially in regards to academic achievement. Originally I wanted to find a reading that talked about the negative aspects of arts education do offer a contradiction to the positive literature. However, it appears to be a generally unanimous opinion that the arts are important in the realm of education. Instead, one of the readings will argue that the arts should be looked at for its own value, innate within the field of arts, and should not have to defend its use through the academic achievement it predicts. As Greene writes, “Music does not need to make excuses for itself, as if it had no intrinsic worth” (2015). These different approaches to the benefits of an arts education will be useful as they may offer explanations that are consistent with a student’s experience, but also offers a contrast or a new perspective. Several questions will be offered to consider as this may help the conversations get started or continue if individual thoughts are running out. These questions will include ones asking about the individual experiences of the class to prompt them in thinking about their own education. By sharing within a small group, Dewey’s ideas are being utilized as education through experience. Students will be able to reflect on their own experiences as well as think critically about the readings and get the benefit or sharing with the class and hearing about other’s opinions. A small group will also allow more student’s ideas to be heard as it will be an easier environment to share in compared to the large