Why is art education important for school children ?

The question whether art education is necessary for children at school has drawn much attention from the public. While some people argue that teaching art subjects is a waste of time, I believe that it is significant for children to learn art-related subjects.

At the outset, it is thought by a handful of people that art education at school is a waste of time. There are more important subjects that would benefit children for their future life. Science, technology and mathematics, for example, are of great significant subjects which allow students to find a good job after graduation. On the other hand, studying arts does not lead to a successful career. It is easy to see that these days, most artists have been struggling to make a living from selling their work of art.

Despite the above arguments, from my perspective, learning art is necessary for students at school because of some radical reasons. Firstly, art subjects including music, drawing, painting and sculpture allow children to enter a state of relaxation. After concentration on STEM subjects, what learners need is to unwind useful physical activities in order to make a balance. For instance, singing a song in the musical class could bring positive emotion to students. Secondly, studying art could improve performance in other subjects. It is true that art enhances fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills which may assist children in attaining better learning outcomes.

In conclusion, although several individuals claim that it is a waste of time for art education, it seems to me that having access to art classes is essential for children.

Jaswinder Kaur