Kids & Art
According to Kimberly Sheridan, Ed.D., coauthor of Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education,"It's not as easy to test the skills that children learn from the arts, but that doesn't make them any less important”.
Here's what she believes participating in an arts program increases a child’s ability to do:
- Observe the world carefully and discard preconceptions in order to envision something and then create it
- Go beyond just learning a skill to express a personal voice
- Problem-solve and persist despite frustration and setbacks
- Reflect on the results and ask what could improve them
I do hope you have planned to provide opprotunities for your child to explore art in the coming year. Remember, the benefits are more far-reaching than you can imagine.
Tim Octane
6:51 am on Monday, February 4, 2013
Yes! And the same goes for performing arts - especially music. That our schools are Cutting these important programs from schools due to budgetary concerns shows an ignorance of their well-documented value. And, does not speak well for the future of our culture/our country. If you understand this, PLEASE be a loud voice for keeping the arts in our schools.
Margaret T.
1:53 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
My impression is that the district well understands the value these art and music programs offer students and the overall community, but has been in the position of cutting $$ over a long period of time and would need to make further decisions in the absence of a new levy. It's the "everything on the table" approach to budget cutting. People who value arts education and recognize the importance of strong schools need to be hands-on in the overall district feedback and budget / levy processes.
Randy Marsh
4:57 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
I just first want to say how much I appreciate Jane using her middle name, otherwise I'd constantly be getting her confused with my good friend Jane Grant-Abban. Second, I think music has been the only sacred cow District 834 refuses to make any cuts in because they are the biggest whiners around.
yomammy
3:32 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Art is very important. Now in a world willed with constant distraction, and schooling designed to simply pass kids thru with little actual personal creativity.