Sandy Fivecoat: Keeping the Arts in Mind

This blog has always been a personal platform for me - an online version of the wonderful speakers' corner in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London, England.  I have rarely posted on aspects of the work that pays my bills - mainly because it is something that already consumes plenty of my energy & attention.

Today is an exception.

The founder & CEO of the startup I work with has just started blogging, as our site moves into Beta. Her post connects with a great deal of what I believe in - so it is a double pleasure to point to this post Keeping the Arts in Mind and excerpt it here:

The Dana Foundation  released a new report, titled “Learning, Arts, and the Brain” (Download report here )  This extensive 3 year study, led by Dr. Michael S. Gazzaniga from the University of California in Santa Barbara, addresses this question: Do smart kids tend to gravitate toward band, orchestra, music, dance classes? Or do kids who get involved in the arts somehow become ‘smarter.’ In other words, is there something about training in the arts that supports the development of human cognition, applicable in other subject areas?

This study seems to point to the latter. That is, participation in the arts – especially for children – does, indeed seem to have a positive impact on cognition.

Tom Chapin – a Grammy award-winning song writer just launched national distribution of this song and video to raise awareness about the importance of music education in all classrooms. He also cleverly reminds us that our often single-minded focus on tests and accountability may be a big distractor to real improvement in America’s schools.

So here is my take — It’s a HUGE bonus that involvement in the Arts helps promote greater academic performance. And ‘good on’ the Dana Arts and Cognition Consortium for its detailed and comprehensive three year study to establish this connection. But also a big standing ovation for Tom Chapin for his humorous and poignant reminder that the human experience is VERY big, and exposure to the arts is an important part of that experience. Fully funded, fully supported Arts education programs in our schools are important because the ARTS are IMPORTANT – to ensure our students have rich, full lives, including all the glory the arts experiences provide.

Comments

[liz]

I've been pondering this for our priviledged communities around here--once a private foundation takes over the arts program at your public school, the state is never going to say, "oh, okay thanks, we're back on our feet now, you can go home. we'll take it from here."

I've been pondering this for our priviledged communities around here--once a private foundation takes over the arts program at your public school, the state is never going to say, "oh, okay thanks, we're back on our feet now, you can go home. we'll take it from here."