Since President Barak Obama launched the Educate to Innovate program in 2010, states have legislated more testing of and graduation requirements for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. However, fine arts teachers and arts program advocates have long recognized that visual, performing and musical arts can significantly increase success in core subjects and beyond the classroom.
Weslie Webster, the director of education for and a resident member of the acting troupe of the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, Tenn., said, “There are so many benefits to participating in [arts] classes. They build confidence and communication skills. No matter what job they go into they can apply that to any profession, not just an arts profession.”
Researchers with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching concluded that young people involved with community arts programs typically:
- take on leadership roles in their schools
- earn high grades
- do not miss school often
- choose to attend art events
- learn to accept feedback as a learning tool, rather than a criticism
- take risks in creating art and in critical thinking
- develop a strong sense of community service.
Webster said, “Last year, we had three of the four valedictorians and salutatorians [from the Cumberland County high schools] here. They took classes here.”
Other studies support the Carnegie Foundation’s research. The National Endowment for the Arts sponsored a study that showed a strong correlation between strong arts education programs and academic and personal success in students of low socioeconomic populations. These students had higher GPAs and test scores in science and were more likely to graduate from high school and college than their peers who did not take arts classes. The researchers also showed an increase in “civic and social participation” in both low and high socioeconomic groups.
Harvard University President Drew Faust wrote, “Interpretation, judgment, and discernment will always be in demand, and they are cultivated and refined in the humanities. … Students in the humanities learn how to think critically and communicate their ideas clearly, and those transferrable skills lead to rewarding lives and careers in every field of endeavor.”
In an article for ‘Parenting’ magazine, Nancy Kalish summarized the results of a study by the Dana Foundation, which supports advanced, responsible brain research:
- “Musical training improves reading by helping children distinguish the sound structure of words.
- “Acting boost memory and the ability to articulate ideas.
- “Strong interest in a performing art leads to better attention and memory.”
Webster recognizes these skills developing in students every semester. “They can often find success here,” said Webster, “whereas, sometimes in the classroom something may be harder to them. Some of the discipline they learn here can be applied to those things, too, so it does build self-confidence, [and] a sense of pride that they can carry with them forever. … We graduate confident, contributing members of society and people that want to give back to society, too.”
The Cumberland County Playhouse offers music, dance, writing and acting classes for children and adults five days a week. The registration form, 2014-15 class schedule and list of instructors can be downloaded from the playhouse education page.
I am proud of my family”s abiilties in fine arts. They have shared joy because of imagination. Poems, paintings,writings, crafts, laughter. and love. Government should be willing to give a hands up to the children.