Aliya Webster
Mrs. Cramer
Comp. Pd. 4
7 December 2018
Arts and music education programs are mandatory in countries that rank consistently
among the highest for math and science test scores, such as Japan, Hungary, and the
Netherlands.1 The creative sector of the economy continues to grow. Art education fosters the
growth by training the next generation of artists. Art classes also build diverse communities by
breaking down across racial stereotypes, religious barriers, and socio-economic classes. Art
education is important for the developing mind and encourages children to be expressive and to
feel good about themselves. Most people agree the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded
education for children. Today’s world is a witness to the Information Age. The primary sources
of content and information are no longer teacher lectures or textbooks. Learning is not limited to
what a person knows but is dependent upon how to find information and how to use that
information quickly, creatively, and cooperatively (“Katy”). Art education is a hidden gem in
schools and must be given thought to as those types of classes have numerous benefits for
Firstly, art education has been found to improve confidence which is something that most
kids lack. Confidence is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something, firm
1Logos - a literary device that can be defined as a statement, sentence, or argument used to convince or persuade
the targeted audience by employing reason or logic. This sentence is a logos because its convincing the audience
with a fact.
Webster 2
trust. Art education is known to help with one of the most important qualities a person should
have. Confidence comes naturally with success, but success comes only to those who are
confident, which means that kids will grow, with confidence, when doing something they love
and are good at but if they are never given the chance, then how would their confidence have a
chance to grow?2 While mastering a subject certainly builds a student’s confidence, there is
something special about participating in the arts. Getting up on a stage and singing or performing
in some way gives kids a chance to step outside their comfort zone and show a part of
themselves. As they improve and see their own progress, their self-confidence will continue to
grow (Martin). This is a good example as one is improving or getting better at something, one’s
confidence will build and therefore, the arts have boosted the confidence of that child. As one
performs a talent they have and are complimented, or encouraged, progress is achieved and
causes them to try harder. Also, letting kids express themselves freely can build up their
confidence (Trombetta). Kids are still growing and impacted by thoughts and feelings therefore,
if someone discouraged a child from participating in art or playing an instrument that could crush
that child’s confidence. If kids are given a chance to express themselves freely, they will feel
proud of themselves and that pride will help to grow their self-esteem. Art education can be a
huge help to anyone's self-confidence and high self-esteem transfers into and can influence many
Secondly, when schools are making cuts, art education may be the first to go just because
people have trouble seeing the importance of it compared to subjects such as science or math.
Some people think that science and math classes are much more important because they are seen
to be much more useful in future jobs, but they do not know all the benefits and the ways in
2Chiasmus - a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of
their structures in order to produce an artistic effect. This is shown between confidence with success and success
with confidence.
Webster 3
which art classes can be used in people's lives. Art helps with basic daily tasks such as decision
making, the ability to focus, and how to handle making mistakes. Overall, studies show students
who enroll in art classes tend to do better in school than the ones who don’t. Even though art
education isn't for everyone, it is still just as important as any other class and has great benefits
Another reason most schools want to get rid of art education is that it is too expensive.
The cost of art education might be costly, but it is worth it in the long run. It is a well-known fact
that public schools never have enough money to run elective classes, but if kids never have the
chance to try an art, music, or theater class, they may miss the chance to excel at something that
they could enjoy for their lifetime, whether it be through a job or a hobby. One part of the reason
fine arts is the first to be cut out of the curriculum is that they are not the most obvious money
maker (compared to say sporting events) (“Why”). Schools, when taking budget cuts, need to
think of all the benefits children will lose when the arts are cut. What happens to the kids who
feel good about themselves from these classes? Within an art class, students can express
themselves in a different way instead of just reading a book, studying, and having to retain
information. Critical thinking skills, problem solving, and reasoning are all improved with art
classes. How does it make sense to get rid of something that helps kids with academics or their
confidence level?
Lastly, art education has helped people improve students' academic performance, which
is a great reason to have those kinds of classes in schools. A report by Americans for the Arts
says that young people who participate regularly in the arts (at least three hours a week) are four
times more likely to be recognized for academic achievements. 3 Enough data exists to support
3 Ethos - means to convince an audience of the author's credibility or character. This is ethos because it is
convincing the audience with a credible author, the Americans for the Arts.
Webster 4
that study and participation in the arts is key in an educational environment (“Katy”). This
example is a perfect way to show how if someone has as little as three hours a week, academic
achievements can be seen. If that same student is in a class for a year, he or she would have been
given three hours a week times thirty-six weeks, which gives that child better room for
improvement in academics.
developing better team players, fostering a love for learning, improving greater student
dignity, enhancing student creativity, and producing a more prepared citizen for the
Art education helps students with not only the grades but, spills out into daily tasks and future
achievements. Unlike much of the curriculum in which correct answers and rules prevail, in the
arts, it is judgment rather than rules that are important. The arts cannot be learned through
occasional or random exposure any more than math or science can. All in all, the amazing
research and findings about students enrolled in art classes and how they’re more likely to
In conclusion, art education is overlooked in all schools and administrators have a hard
time seeing its importance, but it helps kids improve academically and feel more confident.
Schools need to offer more in-depth learning about the things that matter the most: order,
integrity, thinking skills, a sense of wonder, truth, flexibility, fairness, dignity, contribution,
justice, creativity and cooperation (Martin). The arts provide all of these. The arts are what make
us most human, most complete as people. Art education helps develop creative right brain
Webster 5
functions, as well as the whole brain by strengthening focus and increasing attention.
Engagement in the fine arts helps students to stretch their minds beyond the boundaries of the
printed text or the rules of what is provable. Art education classes are helping kids perform better
and achieve higher grades, which are important to be successful in future schooling. All these
help with building kids' self-confidence which is vital with growing children. Countries that are
scoring the highest in science and math make art and music class mandatory, which shows how
Works Cited
www.katyisd.org/dept/finearts/Pages/The-Importance-of-Fine-Arts-Education-.aspx.
Martin, Lauren. “10 Reasons Why Arts in Education Is so Important for Kids.” Learning Liftoff,
15 Aug. 2018.
Trombetta, Anne. "The freedom to express." School Arts, Apr. 1992, p. 27. Academic OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A12157431/AONE?u=pl1949&sid=AONE&xid=ec1f
“Why Schools Are Cutting Fine Arts.” SiOWfa15 Science in Our World Certainty and
Controversy, sites.psu.edu/richmondcivicissue/2014/03/26/why-schools-are-cutting-fine-
arts-education/.