Arts education is part of the K-12 core curriculum. It is a planned, systematic, logically sequenced study for all students based on the disciplines of music, theater, visual arts, and dance. Arts education is a dynamic process of inquiry and expression that empowers all students to use knowledge, skills, imagination, and creativity to make responsible and informed aesthetic decisions in life.
Arts education should:
- Provide opportunities for students to develop skills of self-discipline as well as cooperation and collaboration
- Stimulate curiosity, imagination, and creativity.
- Foster respect and sensitivity for individuals, for cultural diversity, and for unity.
- Develop regional and global awareness.
- Provide access to a variety of human intelligences.
- Teach skills to promote the development of physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
- Prepare students to apply knowledge and skills to their changing world.
- Include current research and technology.
- Expose students to career and avocational opportunities.
- Prepare students to develop into fully literate, expressive, and responsible citizens.
The arts education curriculum will:
- Teach the arts as discrete disciplines as well as integrate arts concepts and processes with other disciplines at all levels, K-12.
- Require discipline, both mental and behavioral, for study, production, and performance in the arts.
- Encourage habits of reflection and self-evaluation.
- Require cooperation and collaboration for production and performance.
- Stimulate creativity and the imagination.
- Use developmentally appropriate methods and materials to meet individual needs of all students.
- Include study of artistic contributions made by both genders and all cultures throughout history.
- Promote understanding of the world through useful and connected content.
- Emphasize multiple learning modes, higher-order thinking skills, and creative problem-solving skills.
- Foster self-esteem, confidence, and positive emotional responses to learning.
- Apply aesthetic principles to decisions regarding consumer and community choices.
- Demonstrate how skills learned in the arts apply to other aspects of life.
- Promote awareness of current and emerging technology.
- Expose students to the many career and lifelong leisure opportunities available in the arts and arts related activities.
- Make use of community resources and develop community partnerships
- Develop expressive skills.
- Provide opportunities for students to communicate ideas, emotions, and information through artistic expression.
- Encourage independent thought and objective judgment essential for living in a democratic society.
- Promote individual artistic expression.