Art in Education

Being an educator is one of the most honorable and important careers a person can have in this world. An educator must be multi-faceted, meaning he or she must be able to "play the stage", as my art professor once said, and take on any role that calls during the school day. One minute a teacher may be a counselor and quickly transition into an authority figure. Next, that same person may have to play a judge that must deliver a verdict for a certain situation. Whatever the role may be, a teacher must always be prepared.

Having said that teachers take on many roles, it is important for teachers to understand that there are many facets to education that make a child's experience in school memorable. That experience can also be life-guiding and/or life changing if that experience is approached with enthusiasm and a creative mind.

Art is one facet of education that allows students to express emotion and creativity in such a way that others may benefit from its product. Many educators feel they aren't creative enough or lack certain talents that allow them to be artistic. I feel that as a major influence in children's lives, teachers should give students every opportunity to branch out and be immersed in the artistic and creative world. What many teachers and parents do not realize is that there are many aspects of art that do not include drawing, painting, or sculpting. In today's ever growing technological society, media art is a huge aspect of the artistic world. Digital photography, clip art, graphic design, and architecture are all major components of today's professional realm. There are many professions to be had in this field.

In addition to education and art being multi-faceted children too are such. Many children possess artistic ability but are not able to "tap" into that resource because they are limited in the classroom to worksheets, tests, and routine assignments. With art being integrated as much as possible into the curriculum, students are able to gain a more meaningful sense of accomplishment because they used their minds to complete something that becomes a part of themselves.