Honors Theses
Date of Award
2005
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Art and Art History
First Advisor
Debby Chessin
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
This thesis aims to prove that the arts should be a major component in every student’s education. Statistics, research findings, and case studies from throughout the years were compared and compiled together in order to make a strong argument in favor of the arts. The National Art Education Association website provided many statistics as did the National Center for Education Statistics. Two of the specific studies presented in this thesis came from Champions of Change, a collection of seven major studies done by professional academics. It was produced by the Arts Education Partnership, the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, the GE Fund, and the John D. and Catherine T. Mac Arthur Foundation. Studies were also drawn from Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development. Similar to Champions of Change, Critical Links is a compendium consisting of many studies about the effects of learning in the arts. The National Endowment for the Arts and the U.S. Department of Education awarded fimding to the Arts Education Partnership to commission and publish it. Other sources used in gathering data were books and articles written by arts educators with years of first-hand experience. It was discovered that the arts are not only valuable in and of themselves, but also they can enhance learning in other academic areas. In addition, the arts are central to understanding and creating culture and can be utilized to provide motivation, reach struggling students, and present new challenges. For all of these reasons, it was concluded that the arts are fimdamental to learning, and instruction in the arts should be offered in every school in order for students to receive the best education possible. 11
Recommended Citation
Buntin, Holly Louise, "The Value of an Arts Rich Education: Why Every School Should Teach the Arts" (2005). Honors Theses. 1962.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/1962
Accessibility Status
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