How the arts enhance education by erica zigelman

HOW THE ARTS ENHANCE EDUCATION

By Erica Zigelman


Erica Zigelman serves as a principal for the New York City Department of Education. Over the years, Ms. Erica Zigelman has also worked as an adjunct professor for graduate programs teaching leadership classes. Erica Zigelman also served as a literary coach and Teacher Center Mentor.


In many schools throughout the country, arts programs are given secondary priority. With decreased budgets and lowered funds, these programs are often the first to go. However, the arts enrich the educational experience and provide real benefits to a learning child in multiple ways.

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For example, it has been shown that the brain is composed of intricate neural pathways that are dedicated purely to attention. When focusing attention on playing an instrument or learning a new skill, such as painting, these attention networks strengthen, and in turn enhance, cognition.


In fact, a direct cause-and-effect relationship has been found between cognition and arts education. When there is an increase in art training, IQ scores increase by a calculable percentage. While the study of this relationship has only begun, we cannot deny that exposure to such an education provides benefits far past learning the art form itself.