We all have those days, the ones packed with homework, sports, and extracurricular activities. Our lives are stressful; however, by turning to creative outlets, we can help reduce that stress. The arts provide personal time to relax and take time away from schoolwork. Art allows students to explore new boundaries and ideas. Art classes in schools increase students’ compassion for one another and promote respect for others’ work. Research from the Integrated Arts Academy shows that students who take art classes take more pride in their work, and display more confidence than those who don’t. Art classes make the stress that comes with school more enjoyable, even for those who don’t consider themselves artistically talented.
In addition to making time at school more enjoyable, earning an education in the arts helps students become more well-rounded and encourages creativity. This can be especially beneficial in problem-solving and looking at the world through different lenses, as visual arts classes teach the importance of perspective, balance, and composition. Art has been known to make difficult subjects easier because it teaches students to break down a larger project into smaller, more manageable pieces. Art can even be incorporated into note-taking for visual learners.
Furthermore, research from the Arts Ed Search has shown that taking art classes in school increases attendance, graduation rates, test scores, and even writing scores. However, some schools are eliminating the requirement of an arts education to focus on bolstering students’ scores on standardized testing such as the SAT and ACT. However, art clearly makes a substantial impact on students, and it improves test scores as well.