Defence against the squeezed arts
What’s the most important subject in your education? If you know what’s good for you, you’ll say English or maths. But let me change the question: what’s the most important to you? Art? Music? Drama? Dance?
In schools a lot of focus is on academic subjects, like English, maths and science, with a little recognition of sports here and there, but what about the rest? What about the arts? Why have they been pushed to the bottom of the Government's educational priorities list?
As a society, we spend a lot of time focusing on treating people with equality but education is an area where too often, and certainly in government, differences aren’t appreciated. The arts; music, drama and visual arts, may not be everyone’s ideal way to spend their education but, for some, they are more important than the academic subjects that are considered essential.
Sports are recognised readily as important for students who either struggle with compulsory subjects or just quite simply don’t enjoy them. However, the arts often aren’t given the same recognition, being seen by so many adults and politicians simply as 'soft subjects'.
"Creativity is intelligence having fun." - Albert Einstein
It is important that students study a mixture of subjects to become well-cultured as well as academically educated. The famous physicist and scientific pioneer, Albert Einstein, saw the importance of this and is said to have stated:
“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.”
Take a leaf out of Einstein’s book: what’s the use of intellect if you can’t use it creatively? The arts, specifically music, have been seen to improve students’ grades and to increase a person’s IQ. According to many studies undertaken in the US, it is scientifically proven that learning an art form gives better literacy and numeracy skills as well as making it easier to learn a language. Those who study music or drama are taught about their intonation, which requires listening skills. In turn, listening skills are seen to help improve communication skills. Eton spends more time on drama and performance than almost any other school in the country and look at the number of politicians (and actors) it produces as a result.
Spontaneity and improvisation skills are developed by learning an art form, both of which are important for problem solving and times when the skill of 'thinking on your feet' is needed. Some art forms also provide experience of working collaboratively and others provide a sense of competition, both of which will be useful in the future.
Another piece of evidence that education in the arts is necessary comes in the form the psychological benefits associated with art. It has been proven that those who learnt an art form as children have improved short term and long term memory. Again using music as an example, brain scans of American students have been taken showing that more musical people are better at coping with anxiety and more in control of their emotions. This is because enthusiasm and appreciation of art releases endorphins, making us happy. Self-esteem is also increased by the arts. Wouldn't it be nice if there were more students who felt better about themselves through their education?
Art is expressive. Whether that's the visual image an artist produces, the image a musician suggests through their playing, singing or composing or it's the portrayal of a character by an actor. This expression is often a distraction from the stress, concentration and times when we have to be or do 'what's right'. Being artistic is being you. Shouldn't we all have access to that break?
Clearly, the 19th century German composer, Robert Schumann, understood the emotional necessity of art:
"To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist."
What some don't consider is that while we're thinking about what qualifications will get us the best jobs, there might be respected, well-paid and enjoyable jobs available within the arts industry. Although most occupations, academic or creative, do require English and maths qualifications nowadays, the others shouldn't be overlooked by us or by our schools, politicians or families. We should all recognise the importance of aspiring to achieve our ideal careers, which we enjoy enough to not see as a chore.
The arts help us encounter new aspects of life and new challenges. Knowing there are academically focused people reading this article, a typical argument we, as aspiring musicians, artists, actors and dancers, hear too often is that arts won't get us anywhere and we should give up and concentrate on a proper education. But who is to say what the future holds or which of our subjects will ultimately lead us to success?
"If you try to suppress the arts, then you're suppressing the deepest dreams and aspirations of a people." - Barack Obama
Lucy Cooper, Y10
In schools a lot of focus is on academic subjects, like English, maths and science, with a little recognition of sports here and there, but what about the rest? What about the arts? Why have they been pushed to the bottom of the Government's educational priorities list?
As a society, we spend a lot of time focusing on treating people with equality but education is an area where too often, and certainly in government, differences aren’t appreciated. The arts; music, drama and visual arts, may not be everyone’s ideal way to spend their education but, for some, they are more important than the academic subjects that are considered essential.
Sports are recognised readily as important for students who either struggle with compulsory subjects or just quite simply don’t enjoy them. However, the arts often aren’t given the same recognition, being seen by so many adults and politicians simply as 'soft subjects'.
"Creativity is intelligence having fun." - Albert Einstein
It is important that students study a mixture of subjects to become well-cultured as well as academically educated. The famous physicist and scientific pioneer, Albert Einstein, saw the importance of this and is said to have stated:
“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination.”
Take a leaf out of Einstein’s book: what’s the use of intellect if you can’t use it creatively? The arts, specifically music, have been seen to improve students’ grades and to increase a person’s IQ. According to many studies undertaken in the US, it is scientifically proven that learning an art form gives better literacy and numeracy skills as well as making it easier to learn a language. Those who study music or drama are taught about their intonation, which requires listening skills. In turn, listening skills are seen to help improve communication skills. Eton spends more time on drama and performance than almost any other school in the country and look at the number of politicians (and actors) it produces as a result.
Spontaneity and improvisation skills are developed by learning an art form, both of which are important for problem solving and times when the skill of 'thinking on your feet' is needed. Some art forms also provide experience of working collaboratively and others provide a sense of competition, both of which will be useful in the future.
Another piece of evidence that education in the arts is necessary comes in the form the psychological benefits associated with art. It has been proven that those who learnt an art form as children have improved short term and long term memory. Again using music as an example, brain scans of American students have been taken showing that more musical people are better at coping with anxiety and more in control of their emotions. This is because enthusiasm and appreciation of art releases endorphins, making us happy. Self-esteem is also increased by the arts. Wouldn't it be nice if there were more students who felt better about themselves through their education?
Art is expressive. Whether that's the visual image an artist produces, the image a musician suggests through their playing, singing or composing or it's the portrayal of a character by an actor. This expression is often a distraction from the stress, concentration and times when we have to be or do 'what's right'. Being artistic is being you. Shouldn't we all have access to that break?
Clearly, the 19th century German composer, Robert Schumann, understood the emotional necessity of art:
"To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist."
What some don't consider is that while we're thinking about what qualifications will get us the best jobs, there might be respected, well-paid and enjoyable jobs available within the arts industry. Although most occupations, academic or creative, do require English and maths qualifications nowadays, the others shouldn't be overlooked by us or by our schools, politicians or families. We should all recognise the importance of aspiring to achieve our ideal careers, which we enjoy enough to not see as a chore.
The arts help us encounter new aspects of life and new challenges. Knowing there are academically focused people reading this article, a typical argument we, as aspiring musicians, artists, actors and dancers, hear too often is that arts won't get us anywhere and we should give up and concentrate on a proper education. But who is to say what the future holds or which of our subjects will ultimately lead us to success?
"If you try to suppress the arts, then you're suppressing the deepest dreams and aspirations of a people." - Barack Obama
Lucy Cooper, Y10