Arts Education In Public Schools

Arts education in public schools is a topic people are discussing because they are questioning whether it really does impact student success. Critics may think arts education is not relevant towards the real-world and future student career success because they do not see the significant benefits visual and performing arts have on student learning. Parents result in sending their child to a school that has a curriculum based on Common Core State Standards, which has a focus on English and math. In reality, arts education is proven to increase test scores and performance in the classroom (Chapman). Arts education does allow students to think critically in a unique way to express their thoughts, and it allows them to apply this strategy in a traditional …show more content…
Each of the fifty states has a public agency dedicated to the arts. These agencies use state and federal funds to promote the arts on the behalf of everyone. State arts agencies not only help to advance arts education for student academic success, but they also work to increase public access to the arts to ensure every community in America enjoys the cultural and educational benefits of a thriving arts sector (“National Assembly of State Arts Agencies”). They are able to fulfill their mission in three ways: knowledge, representation, and community. With knowledge, NASAA shares their ideas with state arts agencies in how they can grow in their state. NASAA provides representation by advocating their mission, and they provide community by aiming to get everyone involved in achieving their goal. In “Questioning Arts Education in Action” by Laura Chapman, the author states, “state arts agencies are working to ensure students receive comprehensive and sequential arts instruction as part of a well-rounded school curriculum” (Chapman). NASAA mainly works to bring awareness in hopes of gaining supporters in order to achieve a prosperous growth in the arts because they desire for students to be able to benefit from arts education in school curriculum. They acknowledge its significance because it allows students to apply critical thinking and …show more content…
Integrating arts education into Common Core benefits NASAA because their goal of advancing arts education to impact student academic performance is being fulfilled. This pleases NASAA because state arts agencies can be strengthened and be able to provide advanced arts education, as Common Core would have high-academic standards for the arts. Common Core State Standards would prosper and grow support because they would now have the support of those who favor in arts education. Common Core tends to receive opposition because of the lack of creativity involved in their curriculum. Common Core would also be able to keep their program but now expand their curriculum to include the arts, which would only enhance their program. In the article, “The Uncommon Core,” Jason Ohler states, “Critical thinking and creativity are considered at odds in our approach to schooling. Having standards that reflect the need for both would be immensely helpful. Having standards that blend both into an integrated approach to problem solving would be ideal” (Ohler). Combining the curriculum is ideal because it achieves the best of both worlds for student success. Students will have high quality academic standards in math and reading while also practicing their creativity and critical thinking skills from an arts course. Practicing those skills will only enhance classroom performance. Clearly, integrating arts education into Common Core is a