messy messy me

As a contrast, I have decided to add the video above to discuss a rather serious topic in education, mainly art education. A strong arts education promotes the skills children need to be successful. Their exposure promotes self-directed learning, creative thinking, improves school attendance and sharpens critical and creative skills. In fact, several recent studies have concluded that the creativity and innovation utilized in the artistic process will be highly valued by employers.

Teachers are the first to point out how creative arts programs have strongly influenced their students' self-image and increased their academic success in the areas of math, science and the language arts. But sadly, during these difficult economic times, arts programs are the first to be sacrificed. In addition, in many schools where classroom space is limited, so called art 'studios' are now only contained in a cart that is wheeled by teachers from room to room, severely limiting the arts education students receive. In a community as diverse as ours, the arts serve as an essential bridge across language and cultural differences. They become the shared link that glue and shapes our understanding of how we see ourselves and each other.