Daddy Long Legs and The Inchworm Book Release
It wasn’t too long ago that arts education in schools was thought to be a luxury, and arts classes were cut from the curriculum to make room for more time to prepare for standardized tests. Currently, there is more and more information available that shows how crucial the arts are to creating well-rounded, well-prepared learners and leaders.
Last year, you may remember that I hosted an event for AAU Global Production Media Group and it was held at Spirit of Huntington Art Center in Huntington Station. NY which is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides children with special needs and Veterans the opportunity for art and creative expression that can transform their lives. Looking around before the event, I saw so many creative pieces created by some very talented kids.
There are many reasons for the arts to be included in an educational system, and just as many ways that involvement in the arts has been shown to help students in their personal, social, and academic development.
The bottom line is essentially this: The arts help students to attain life skills, not only skills in a specific artistic discipline. The arts draw on a range of skills and abilities that encourage the development of study, social, and personal skills in addition to specific artistic techniques.
For example, students involved in the arts scored consistently higher on math and reading tests than students of the same socioeconomic class without exposure to the arts. This effect is sometimes termed “rotary learning” as education in the arts not only increases achievement in arts related fields, but in other academic areas as well.
Arts education develops students who are self driven and motivated as they are often the toughest critics of their own work. It teaches students to learn for the experience of learning and not just for the grade. Involvement in the arts teaches students how to try new things, manage risk, and handle failure.
The arts provide students with a multitude of options for expressing and communicating their ideas and students learn to think about problems from a broad range of perspectives. These kinds of communication and problem solving abilities are essential to all work environments, regardless of the field. The ability to generate ideas and communicate them effectively is essential in workplace and this ability can be cultivated through involvement in the arts. If schools want to prepare their students the best that they can to enter the working world it would seem foolish not to incorporate an arts program that has as much integrity as the science or math programs that already exist.
And the list goes on: education in the arts levels the playing field for disadvantaged children. It offers a continual challenge for successful students as the possibilities for improvement are always endless. The arts are able to reach students who do not do well in a typical classroom setting and ultimately gives them a reason to stay in school.
These students usually excel in the arts and this success leads to improvement in the classroom. Participants in arts related after-school programs typically do better in school and their personal lives than others in same socioeconomic class without arts involvement. Student artwork helps teachers to know their students better so that they can understand how they learn and teach more effectively.
Finally, an increase in arts education and exposure in schools and communities has the potential to cultivate a greater interest in the arts which could support the professional arts field. Maintaining interest in and commitment to the arts is necessary for the survival of the arts in the United States because it relies so heavily on earned income from ticket sales and private donations.
Now arts are not only important in the schools and community centers but they are also important in the home as evidenced by Demetrius Bullock who along with his Bryce who has just completed his first comic book entitled “Daddy Long Legs and the Inch Worm” launching with book signing scheduled for February 9th.
To see more of Demitrius’ work, head over to Artzscape, which is located at 205 North Market Street in Wilmington, Delaware. Check out his Instagram account and websites: Motion Illustrationz and Demitrius Bullock.
Let’s Chat: Do you encourage creativity with your kids and/or grandkids?
UPDATE:
The Book Release Party was amazing, check it out.
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4 thoughts on “Cultivating Creativity in Our Kids ~ Daddy Long Legs and The Inchworm Book Release”
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As a parent, it was always frustrating to see so much push-back against arts education from administrators. But I was not to be denied. LOL!
I served as PTA president at the high school for three years and president of the district council for two. During my first year, I found out that while we had motivated art teachers, admins were not helpful in getting out the word about PTA’s yearly Reflections program to any students who did NOT have art classes.
Unacceptable!
Over the summer I applied for-and received-an arts education grant from the Kellogg Foundation. At the beginning of the new school year, with the help of a fantastic district superintendent, the word went out ANY student was welcome to participate and MATERIALS WOULD BE SUPPLIED! The response was amazing! We bought everything from paints and canvas to typing paper and disposable cameras. We had more entries that year than in the last ten.
We kept it up through my years heading the council. Art teachers were thrilled to have the support, and more English and Music teachers got involved. And MORE parents. More importantly, the students were excited for the chance to express themselves artistically AND be recognized.
Sadly, after our group of parents’ time was up-and the best art teacher on the planet retired-a new wave of administrators brought back the status quo of teaching to tests and downplaying involvement in the arts. If one didn’t know better, it would appear success for all students is not the goal.
Congratulations to Demetrius. I wish him much success.
It is always refreshing when parents and the general public take an interest in our kids, not just in school but in the communities as well.
I applaud you for the initiative that you took and for bring some art and creativity to many who may go on in life to excel in not only the arts but in life itself.
You are to be commended and hopefully more parents will take a stand for their kids!!!
Kudos sis!
Thanks! I just wish more parents would show concern and support for all students… not just their own. And teachers should be seen as teammates (my word) not adversaries.
So true sis!