Case Number: 81372
The Arts in Education: A Nicety or Necessity?
Anderson Werkman 8th District Court
Judge: Natasha Alvarez Prosecutor: Amanda Bennick
Defendants: Meg Ahlgrim, Rebecca Budde, & Emilee Anderson
BUDGET CUTS
∙ U.S. Economy ∙ Schools∙ Value of arts
OBJECTION 1:The Arts are too much of a financial burden on schools
∙ U.S. Economy ∙ Schools∙ Value of arts ∙ Cutting arts = saving money
Cognitive Development
Cognitive Development
“…Development of habits of mind including problem solving, critical and creative thinking, dealing with ambiguity and complexity, integration of multiple skill sets, and working with others; and [development of social competencies, including collaboration and team work skills, social tolerance, and self-confidence.” (Dwyer)
Drama
Reading and analysis
Visual Arts
“Observing, envisioning, innovating, and reflecting”
(NAEA)
Music Rhythm and speed= reading and
mathematics
Dance
Gardner’s multiple intelligences
Arts Defeat Economy
Raise ACT scores
OBJECTION 2:The Arts are too subjective to measure progress
∙ Grading∙ Fairness
“Performance in the arts cannot be measured. One child can receive high grades for a painting that is wildly expressive and another for work that is realistic judgements on student learning…are at best arbitrary” (School Superintendent)
Creativity, Expression, Communication
Creativity
- The arts allow students to ask, “what if?” which helps them expand their creativity.
Self-Expression
- Arts allow students to take what they are feeling and express it in a tangible way – a song, dance, scene, or piece of visual art.
Communication
- Arts allow students to take what they are feeling and express it in a tangible way – a song, dance, scene, or piece of visual art.
Better creativity
Better Self-expression
Better communication
OBJECTION 3:There is not enough time available to prioritize the Arts in education
∙ Other requirements
“In the last four or five years the government’s seen how easy it has been to make schools accountable for maths and English, and schools often teach up to 60 per cent of their time in those two areas. That’s two KLAs [Key Learning Areas] out of six! Where’s the other four? And, by the way, the other four sometimes seem more difficult because we’re trying to divide them up into these little boxes.”
Overcoming an Obstacle
Overcoming Time- More time scheduled
for the arts- Help students focus- Less time spent explaining material- Use arts in other subjects
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9WSOyPU-Uk&feature=player_embedded
Video
COURT DOCUMENTS (REFERENCES)Alter, Frances, Terrence Hays, and Rebecca O'Hara. earlychildhoodaustralia.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/australian_journal_of_early_childhood/ajec_index_abstracts/the_challenges_of_implementing_primary_arts_education_what_our_teachers_say.html>.
Bailey, Sally D. "Wings to Fly" Bringing Theatre Arts to Students with Special Needs. Woodbine House, 1993.
Print. Brehm, Mary, and Charlene Kampfe. Creative Dance Improvisation: Fostering Creative Expression, Group
Cooperation, and Multiple Intelligences., 1997. ERIC. Web. 14 Nov. 2011 Davis, Jessica Hoffmann. Why Our Schools Need the Arts. New York: Teachers College, 2008. Print. Eisner, Elliot W. The Kind of Schools We Need: Personal Essays. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1998. Print. Eisner, E. (1994). The Educational Imagination: On the Design and Evaluation of School Programs. New York:
Macmillan. Gadsden, V. L. "The Arts and Education: Knowledge Generation, Pedagogy, and the Discourse of Learning."
Review of Research in Education 32.1 (2008): 29-61. Print.
Green, Elizabeth. "Bloomberg Arts Initiative to Grade Schools' Performance." New York: The Sun 24 July 2007: 1+. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. <http://www.nysun.com/new-york/bloomberg-arts-initiative-to-grade-schools/59003/>.
COURT DOCUMENTS (REFERENCES)Gullatt, D.E. (2008). Enhancing student learning through arts integration: Implications for the profession.
High School Journal. 91, 12-25. "Learning in a Visual Age." arteducators.org. National Art Education Association, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.
<http://arteducators.org>. LoParco, M. "Importance of the Visual Arts in Education." The Dryden Art Department. Dryden Schools.
Web. 11 Nov. 2011. <http://www.dryden.k12.ny.us>. Manzo, Kathleen Kendedy. (2000). "Classroom Renaissance". Education Week vol. 19. 36-41. Recieved
from: Edcuation Research Complete. Nilges, Lynda M., and Nancy P. Gallavan. "How Can I Make Social Studies Move?" Social Studies & the
Young Learner (1998): 5-8. Print. Pinciotti, Patricia. "Creative drama and young children: the dramatic learning connection." Arts Education
Policy Review 94.6 (1993): 24+. Academic OneFile. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. Reishman, Claire D. "Centering In An Age Of Change." Studio Potter 36.1 (2007): 61-63. Art Abstracts (H.W.
Wilson). Web. 14 Nov. 2011. Wilson, John M. "Art-Making Behavior: Why and How Arts Education Is Central to Learning." Arts
Education Policy Review 99.6 (1998): 26-33. Print.