Art for our Sake

I completely agree that the "education system [is] strapped for money and increasingly ruled by standardized tests...and the arts are being cut back at schools across the country." There is a huge emphasis on mathematics and sciences, but suppressing art programs in schools is devastating to current and future artists. Why do art programs exist if it is looked down upon as an insubstantial subject in the education system? Is art only an option for students; a time for fun and play? Art education should be valued because without it, students would lack the abilities and courage to think outside the box.

Students in elementary, middle, and high schools are trained to absorb and memorize information for testing purposes. What is the biggest goal for most schools? High test scores; the higher the better. By pressuring students to score high on exams, many feel overwhelmed and tend to drop out or simple learn to store large amounts of information but have little knowledge of how to put it to practice in relation to society and the world.

I am intrigued by the "Studio Thinking Framework: Eight Habits of Mind." These eight habits of mind provide a clear understanding of the steps many creators take during the process of making art. I have applied many of these habits, if not all, to my own art process. by being able to read these habits, it is much easier for me to analze and organize my creative thinking and practice.