Philosophy of Education
Philosophy of Education
My philosophy of art education is the same as my philosophy of life: it is not about the destination but the journey. The quality of art is completely subjective, but the character and skills developed along the way are not. There are many important lessons to be learned through the process of making art. My teaching philosophy is influenced by art’s role in the current education system, the value of creativity, and the importance of failure
Art and Education
As an art teacher, I recognize that my subject is not typically considered a necessity by the education system. But to think art has no practical value within the education system is a mistake. Studies conducted by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities confirm that schools with more developed art programs out-perform schools without developed art programs in standardized testing (President’s Committee on the Arts 2019). The irony is that eliminating art and placing too much emphasis on math, science, and standardized testing is counterproductive to student success in testing. As a teacher, it is important to remember the main goal in sending children to school: helping children reach their full potential so they can contribute positively to the world they live in. For children to be able to innovate and create meaningful advancements in and for society, they need to be trained to be creative problem solvers. Sadly, today many students at the top of their class lack the ability to innovate and collaborate because they have been taught to regurgitate. I believe experiencing the creative process through art is an effective way to help students develop the skills necessary to innovate.
Creativity
Every child is born with the gift of creativity and artistic expression, but it is quickly stamped out as foolishness and frivolity, especially in today’s educational climate. Creativity is untraceable and untamable, which is often perceived as counterproductive to the results based methodology of schools today. However, the opposite is true as art encourages a student’s ability to think. A students’ ability to innovate relies on their creativity. Creativity cannot be taught in the traditional educational manner; it must be learned through experience. Art classes provide opportunities for students to explore, experiment, and express. The study of art encourages open mindedness and introduces students to new perspectives. I believe this is the beginning of innovative thought. The use of art can function as a great interdisciplinary connection between all subjects, and enhances understanding of other disciplines. Providing creative outlets for students improves their overall performance academically and creates happy healthy students.
Failure
Possibly the greatest crime of a school without art is that we deprive students of failure. We cannot underestimate the value of making mistakes. The children’s movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang expresses this idea perfectly in the song “Roses of Success”. The song says “for every big mistake you make be grateful, that mistake you’ll never make again…Every glowing path that goes astray, shows you how to find a better way.” The goal of creation is to learn and innovate. As humans, we should not dedicate ourselves to the robotic task of making. If the goal is completion, then there is very little meaning or value in creation. If we focus too much on the outcome of the project, we neglect the importance of the lessons learned along the way. Many great scientific advancements happened by accident. I believe creating an environment that is comfortable with failure encourages these happy accidents.
Art is important because through it students develop creativity which is the foundation of innovation. A school that encourages the arts and creative thought develops well rounded, free thinking, successful students. As a teacher, I strive to foster the creative process; its successes and failures.
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My philosophy of art education is the same as my philosophy of life: it is not about the destination but the journey. The quality of art is completely subjective, but the character and skills developed along the way are not. There are many important lessons to be learned through the process of making art. My teaching philosophy is influenced by art’s role in the current education system, the value of creativity, and the importance of failure
Art and Education
As an art teacher, I recognize that my subject is not typically considered a necessity by the education system. But to think art has no practical value within the education system is a mistake. Studies conducted by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities confirm that schools with more developed art programs out-perform schools without developed art programs in standardized testing (President’s Committee on the Arts 2019). The irony is that eliminating art and placing too much emphasis on math, science, and standardized testing is counterproductive to student success in testing. As a teacher, it is important to remember the main goal in sending children to school: helping children reach their full potential so they can contribute positively to the world they live in. For children to be able to innovate and create meaningful advancements in and for society, they need to be trained to be creative problem solvers. Sadly, today many students at the top of their class lack the ability to innovate and collaborate because they have been taught to regurgitate. I believe experiencing the creative process through art is an effective way to help students develop the skills necessary to innovate.
Creativity
Every child is born with the gift of creativity and artistic expression, but it is quickly stamped out as foolishness and frivolity, especially in today’s educational climate. Creativity is untraceable and untamable, which is often perceived as counterproductive to the results based methodology of schools today. However, the opposite is true as art encourages a student’s ability to think. A students’ ability to innovate relies on their creativity. Creativity cannot be taught in the traditional educational manner; it must be learned through experience. Art classes provide opportunities for students to explore, experiment, and express. The study of art encourages open mindedness and introduces students to new perspectives. I believe this is the beginning of innovative thought. The use of art can function as a great interdisciplinary connection between all subjects, and enhances understanding of other disciplines. Providing creative outlets for students improves their overall performance academically and creates happy healthy students.
Failure
Possibly the greatest crime of a school without art is that we deprive students of failure. We cannot underestimate the value of making mistakes. The children’s movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang expresses this idea perfectly in the song “Roses of Success”. The song says “for every big mistake you make be grateful, that mistake you’ll never make again…Every glowing path that goes astray, shows you how to find a better way.” The goal of creation is to learn and innovate. As humans, we should not dedicate ourselves to the robotic task of making. If the goal is completion, then there is very little meaning or value in creation. If we focus too much on the outcome of the project, we neglect the importance of the lessons learned along the way. Many great scientific advancements happened by accident. I believe creating an environment that is comfortable with failure encourages these happy accidents.
Art is important because through it students develop creativity which is the foundation of innovation. A school that encourages the arts and creative thought develops well rounded, free thinking, successful students. As a teacher, I strive to foster the creative process; its successes and failures.
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