1

Lacee Lambert, Jaime Loewen, Andrew Park, Ian Stewart

A.R.T.S., Inc.

∞

Liz Montague

English 2010: Section 58

21 November 2011

2

Introduction

In the past decade, the performing and visual art have become less incorporated in

society, and more specifically, in education. In educational environments, such as school, the arts

have been subjects to detrimental budget cuts due to increasing global financial hardships.

Another reason the arts have become a less emphasized aspect of modern day education is

because the school boards and districts place a heavier weight on the importance of a

conventional academic education. The arts need to take a more essential role in education

because areas, such as music, are scientifically proven to improve learning abilities in students.

One solution to the erosion of arts in school is to encourage students at a young age to

become more active members in the art

community. For example, learning a musical

instrument and participating in the local or school

band will enhance a student’s desire to continue

contributing and participating in the arts. Other

things that could encourage students to partake in

artistic activities include giving the students more

opportunities to experiment in different areas of

the arts. For instance, providing classes in

elementary school that investigate and examine all

areas of the visual and performing arts could

encourage students to continue in the arts and

enrich the lives of the students and those around them. The mission of education is not only to

AJCB “AJCB U15 Ceili Band ” Atlanta Irish

Music School. 2009. Jpeg file.

3

provide a broad academic education and to offer training in a specific trade or discipline but to

generate individuals devoted to the enhancement of society. Service learning combines

community service and education to create a format of learning that not only gives students

knowledge but teaches them how to practically apply the concepts they learn in the classroom to

society. Our group of four scholars, Lacee Lambert, Jaime Loewen, Andrew Park, Ian Stewart,

are participants of such a service learning course. Because of our shared passion for the arts in

education, we decided to create a group dedicated to supporting the fine arts. In our search for an

appropriate community partner, our group discovered a nonprofit organization designed to keep

the arts in school called A.R.T.S Incorporated.

Problem Analysis

“In an education system strapped for money and increasingly ruled by standardized tests, arts

courses can seem almost a needless extravagance, and the arts are being cut back at schools

across the country” (Winner and Hetland 1).

Are arts really that important? This is a

question that both educational professionals and

politicians are currently asking themselves. Do

they serve a purpose, or are they just a “fluff”

class that takes up space in the states already

shrunken education budget? The arts serve a

vital purpose in shaping the ways that humans

in modern society think and in the ways that our “Cerebral Cortex” Introduction to Psychology 1st

ed. by Charles Stangor and Jessica Carey. Flatworld

Knowledge. 2006. Fig. 3.7 Jpeg file.

4

brains function.

In a study by Ellen Winner and Lois Hetland, the

research found that the arts serve a more valid and

quantifiable purpose than creating emotional pleasure

and/or raising test score: “We found that arts programs

teach a specific set of thinking skills rarely addressed

elsewhere in the curriculum . . . ” (Winner and Hetland

2). They included habits such as determination,

expression and communication, and making clear

connections between schoolwork and the world outside

the classroom. Other habits identified were observing,

envisioning, innovation through exploration and reflective self-evaluation. This whole range of

skills is important not only in education but also through society in a wide variety of jobs and

professions. “The first thing we

noticed was that visual arts students

are trained to look. . . perceiving the

world accurately… [and] seeing

clearly by looking past one’s

preconceptions is central to a variety

of profession, from medicine to law

(Winner and Hetland 2).

Additionally, music and the

arts help develop a student’s outlook in life and their self-confidence. As stated by music

“Holiday Celebration” South Pasedina’s Children’s Orchestra

(SPCO). 2009. Jpeg file.

“Robinson Crusoe” Southeastern

Louisiana University’s Missoula Children’s

Theatre. 2008. Jpeg file.

5

professor at Fern Creek Elementary school, “the arts can also improve a student’s entire outlook

on life” (Maxwell 1). Furthermore, the arts help students connect things they are learning in the

classroom. “Patterns in an arpeggio have similarities to sequences in math. Unique color names

enhance vocabulary. A student moved by the music of ‘Les

Miserables’ suddenly wants to know more about the French

Revolution” (Maxwell 1). With the help of the arts, students

can also make connection between the classroom and the

world. “Students are taught to see their projects as part of the

larger art world, past and present” (Winner and Hetland 2).

The arts can even help affect the ways in which we

interact with one another. Edward Pauly, the director of

research and evaluation at the Wallace Foundation, which

finances arts education, said that “the arts can promote

experiences of empathy and tolerance” (Pogrebin 1). In

learning to observe the world in a more

accurate manner as well as learning to

“engage in reflective self evaluation,”

we become more open to and accepting

of change (Winner and Hetland).

Students are given the tools they need to

observe and understand the world in

response to a specific piece of art.

Indeed by preparing them or not, we “Live Model” Lynn Forbes Gallery School of Sculpture.

2009. Jpeg file.

Banks Photos “Boy Covered

With Paint”

www.iStockphoto.com. 2010.

Jpeg file.

6

impact more of the world than just the sphere that we live in. “For students living in a rapidly

changing world, the arts teach vital modes of seeing, imagining, inventing, and thinking (Winner

and Hetland 3).

This phenomenon can even affect the future of the work place. In 1996, Patrice Apodaca

interviewed John Hughes, president of Rhythm & Hues, a computer graphics company that

specializes in movie effects. Apodaca’s goal was to show off the lack of art education was

depleting the amount of experienced artist entering the work force. Hughes commented that it

was drastic enough that he had to supply about half of his work force with professionals from

overseas. With the increase of the special effects field in recent years the demand for these

qualified individuals is ever increasing. “…digital effects executives uniformly lament that they

are increasingly forced to recruit overseas, mostly because American Schools have not provided

even the most fundamental arts curricula” (Apodaca 2). This is only one example of how

eliminating the arts from education can seriously impact the daily lives we live.

Proposal

A.R.T.S., Inc., Artistic Recourse for Teachers and

Students, travels to elementary schools in various districts in the

Salt Lake City area to support and promote the arts to the schools

and their students. “The organization auditions and schedules

professional groups or individuals, who prepare and present a

variety of programs to instruct, entertain and motivate children in the

fine arts areas” (artsineducation.org).

“A.R.T.S., Inc. Logo”

www.artsineducation.org. 2010.

Jpeg file.

7

In an effort to support A.R.T.S. Inc. in the following weeks, our group will interview

teachers and elementary students about the presentations given by the company. Additionally,

the group will construct a survey analyzing the presentations given by A.R.T.S Inc. The

information obtained in the survey will be used on the A.R.T.S Inc’s. website to inform the

public about the company and to endorse the non-profit organization to schools who may be

considering scheduling presentations for their students because it demonstrates that students

benefit from the arts. Additionally, by implementing the results of the survey, the project could

increase the effectiveness of the presentations given by A.R.T.S., Inc and how the audience

receives the information.

The group will do the following:

Join A.R.T.S., Inc. as the company travels to elementary schools.

Write a questionnaire for the students evaluating the presentation in areas such as

the entertainment and informational value of the presentation and how the

students feel the presentation will affect their role in the arts.

Prior to the presentation, our group will present a short dialog for the elementary

students introducing A.R.T.S., Inc., and our group will administer the survey at

that time.

The information gathered from the questionnaires will be used to improve

A.R.T.S. Inc. productions and to promote publicity for the company.

Benefits and Conclusion

8

The intended benefit of our project is to provide A.R.T.S Inc. with improved surveys that

will allow the company to

increase the effectiveness of their

school presentations. The group

will accomplish this through

using data collected from our

new surveys. What's more,

A.R.T.S Inc. is not the sole

beneficiary of this project.

Additionally, the children will

benefit by watching role models and being introduced to the arts, possibly for the first time. This

introduction will generate an interest in the arts and thereby perpetuate the dying arts in

education. As proven through research, when students become involved in artistic areas, such as

music programs, the student’s brain is able to develop and connect in a manner that promotes

intelligence and deep thought.

In conclusion, our group hopes to fulfill our civic duties by helping A.R.T.S. Inc. enrich

the lives of children and the lives of all individuals in society. By increasing arts in the school,

students will be receiving an opportunities to learn, grow and improve the world.

Bill Chambers Design “Nicole Makram shows a child how to play the

violin” Camelia Symphony Orchestra. 2011. Jpeg file.

9

Works Cited

Apodaca, Patrice. “Effects Firms Decry Lack of Arts Education,” Los Angeles Times

13 Oct. 1996. Web. 23 Sept 2011.

A.R.T.S., Inc. “About Us”. http://www.artsineducation.org/about. 2010. Web. 19 November

2011.

Langer, Susanne K. “The Cultural Importance of Arts” M.F. Andrews (Ed.), Asthetic

Form and Education), 1958. Print.

Maxwell, Scott. “Arts in schools: Proven recipe for success” Orlando Sentinel

29 May 2011. Web. 13 Sept 2011

Pogrbin, Robin. “Book Tackles Old Debate: Role of Art in Schools” New York Times

4 Aug. 2007. Web. 11 Oct 2011.

Winner, Ellen, and Lois Hetland. “Art for our sake: School arts classes matter more than ever –

but not for the reasons you think” Boston Globe 2 Sept. 2007. Web. 13 Sept. 2011