Educational Arts

I once heard a story about a fifth grader who grabbed a violin and how it changed her life in more ways than one. Her fingers grasped the bow, and drew it across the strings creating a beautiful sound. She developed the patience to learn to play and continued to play it. The girl had found something not only in the instrument, but also in herself. She had something to take pride in since she wasn't able to do so in school. Like that young girl many people have found their callings, if you will, in musical desires. Unfortunately, there are insufficient funds to continue the education of arts. This means children will never be able to experience this type of motivation or be able to discover if they have a knack or natural talent for any kind of art.

I found this story fascinating, and it bewilders me to think that we are so quick to cut art education, when it brings such happiness and helps so many people achieve what they never thought they could. Arts don't only bring happiness to peoples lives it can raise their self-esteem and help them prosper in other aspects of school. This girl who found her talent in playing the violin also started to achieve better grades and get higher scores on tests; to me that is a sign to keep arts in schools. Over the past twenty years art education has been repressed from many public schools. These schools have had to reduce or cut the budget for music, drama and other arts. We are beginning to see the difference in children as the generations evolve and education changes. Throughout this essay I will be focusing on my experience as a student with education, the way creativity is within us, not taught to us, and how we are pushed away from it.

As I have grown I have gained experience in education. I have learned news ways of thinking and met many people that have broadened my worldview. Although there are many positives aspects of public education there are some downfalls within it as well. I have taken a variety of different classes, in college and high school. I want to talk about the way I have dealt with certain things in cases I agree with and disagree with or would change about the way some teachers have taught me. Personally, I am a very visual learner and need to see and feel things to get a better understanding. I had a tough time with mathematics throughout school, and had a teacher who really impacted my life because she took the time to make sure she was teaching you the way that best suited you. She wasn't there just to be there, she was a teacher to help children and see them achieve and grow as students. She helped me through my struggles and taught me the way that I needed. I really exceled in her class because she was the type of teacher who was hands on and involved.

Another example on the opposite spectrum would be recently in a previous English class I took. I had this teacher who did not want to help her students. She gave us a task and expected us to understand it without any explanation. A specific example of how she didn't help was when she gave us an essay and said it was a free write, "Write what you want to write about, it's informal I want you to have fun." As a student that is exactly what I did. When it was due, I turned it in and the next day got it back with "see me after class" written on it. I did as I was told and she said I don't agree with what you wrote, you need to change it. This was confusing to me and I wasn't quite sure