This talk concerning The Importance of Arts in Education was delivered at Westminster College on March 23, 2009. My personal favorite part of the talk was revealing the percentage of GNP the arts represent---a real sabot for that certain kind of philistine social (and economic) conservative who wants to crush arts funding in schools. For that individual, here's an economic argument that almost sounds like an artifact of some capitalist Utopia. Considering we don't produce much in the U.S. anymore---the legacy of Bretton-Woods---at least we still export the arts.

1. The Importance of
Art in Education
Jeffrey Gold
March 23, 2009
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2. What is Art?
Art is an intellectual construct that gives
rise to a positive emotional response when
created with the correct intention.
Eli Khamarov
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3. The Arts
• Hear • Touch
• Music • Ballet
• See • Dance
• Painting • Speak
• Photography • Poetry
• Film • Think
• Taste & Smell • Sciences
• Culinary • Engineering
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4. Arguments Against
Liberal Agenda
Not Important
Detracts from Fundamentals
Lack of Funding
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5. Arguments Against
• Students given wrong impression of
working in the Arts as an economically
unsustainable endeavor
• “You can make a fortune, but you can’t make
a living.”
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6. Arguments For
The arts embody the most profoundly
central task of all education—
the nuanced development of mind.
European League of Institutes of the Arts
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7. The Arts helps students achieve in the
arts and in other academic disciplines
• The arts have a special potential
for engaging all students.
• The traditional practices of the
arts can improve teaching and
learning in all areas.
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8. The Arts prepare students for
the workplace
The arts demand:
• high standards • discipline
• analytical thinking • teamwork
• creative thinking • persistence
• innovation • follow-through
• practice • product delivery
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9. America’s ability to
compete internationally
• Other countries ensure their students
develop mental and emotional capabilities
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10. How are we doing right now?
• $10,418 expended per student dollars
50 million students, $519 billion
• Scientific Literacy (2006)
• 486/1000 Phenomena (26/46)
• 489/1000 Scientific Reasoning (26/46)
• Mathematics (2006)
• 474/1000 (Rank: 32/53)
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11. pART of the United States economy
• 6% of GNP
• Positive trade balance
• Local economies
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12. Art brings parents
to schools
• Exhibit student works
• Showcase student performances
Artwork (c) Pily Torres
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13. Lack of Funding
• Federal and State Government funding is
dwindling
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14. Thank you
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