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Lesson Plans


Re: importance of art education

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
lindacharlie (lindacharlie)
Fri, 14 May 1999 20:50:10 -0500

As I recall, Eisner stated that there were many other variables that
were not considered in coming to those conclusions about the higher test
scores. For example, though the students had art for more than one year,
they also had parents who were more involved than students with lower
scores (or more AP courses, or more of something else). No proof then
that it was the art that increased the scores.
We can agree or disagree with any or all of these things, but the point
I wanted to make was that we should be very careful about any claims we
make on behalf of our art programs. If we use invalid research to
promote art education, sooner or later we will just look foolish.
Linda in Michigan

Fields, Linda wrote:
>
> I'm not sure I agree, but nevertheless, participation in art (and "the
> arts") has been shown to improve school attendance and discipline.
> Improvement in both of these can only help improve learning. And-if it
> doesn't, why has the college board put out statistics that show higher
> scores on the sat for students who've taken more than one year of an arts
> course? Linda in NC
>
> ----------
> From: lindacharlie
> Sent: Thursday, May 13, 1999 7:26 PM
> To: vvance
> Cc: artsednet.edu
> Subject: Re: importance of art education
>
> In his session at the NAEA convention, Elliot Eisner made the point
> that
> much of the research you are looking for is flawed and therefore
> invalid. Someone on the list said he had an article in "Art
> Education"
> not too long ago in which he went into detail about this. As much as
> we
> would like to believe that art improves academic learning, this has
> not
> been proven in research and it is not a firm foundation on which to
> build an art program. (If scores don't improve it will be "art's
> fault"!)
> Linda in Michigan
>
> Vicki Vance wrote:
> >
> > Does Art Education help Children's Grades in School?
> >
> > > I am on a curriculum committee which is considering improving
> the art program in our small school district. We could use any information
> or statistics that would explain
> > art's value for our children and society in general.
> > >
> > > Perhaps someone could recommend some web sites, books or
> articles that I could research and photocopy for our presentation
> particularly in the area of reading.
> > >
> > > Thank you,
> > >
> > > Vicki Vance
> > > vvance