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How School Cheats Us Out of Our Most Fascinating and Imaginative Art Form

Paul Reed

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Published in A Mathematician S Lament: How School Cheats Us Out Of Our Most Fascinating And Imaginative Art Form

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Art is not just about pretty pictures and catchy tunes. It's a powerful force that can shape our world, solve problems, and make us more human. But our educational system is cheating us out of this essential art form.

A Mathematician's Lament: How School Cheats Us Out of Our Most Fascinating and Imaginative Art Form

by Paul Lockhart

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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In schools, art is often treated as a mere afterthought, a frilly extra that can be cut when budgets are tight. This is a shame, because art is just as important as math, science, and reading. In fact, it can help us develop skills that are essential for success in all areas of life.

For example, art helps us develop our creativity. Creativity is not just about coming up with new ideas. It's also about solving problems, making connections, and seeing the world in new ways. These are all skills that are essential for success in the 21st century workplace.

Art also helps us develop our imagination. Imagination is the ability to see beyond what is real and to create new possibilities. This is a skill that is essential for innovation, problem-solving, and empathy.

Finally, art helps us develop our self-expression. Self-expression is the ability to communicate our thoughts and feelings in a creative way. This is a skill that is essential for personal growth and for building relationships.

So why is our educational system cheating us out of art? There are a number of reasons.

First, our educational system is too focused on standardized testing. Standardized tests measure students' knowledge of basic facts and skills. They do not measure creativity, imagination, or self-expression.

Second, our educational system is too focused on preparing students for college. College admissions committees are looking for students who have taken rigorous academic courses and who have high standardized test scores. Art is not seen as a rigorous academic course, so it is often not given priority in schools.

Third, our educational system is too focused on conformity. Schools want students to be able to follow instructions and to fit in. Art is often seen as a disruptive force, so it is often discouraged in schools.

As a result of these factors, our educational system is cheating us out of art. We are losing out on the benefits that art can provide us, and we are depriving ourselves of the opportunity to develop our full potential.

What can we do to fix this problem? There are a number of things that we can do to make sure that future generations have the opportunity to experience the benefits of art.

First, we need to change the way we measure student success. We need to develop assessments that measure creativity, imagination, and self-expression, in addition to basic facts and skills.

Second, we need to make art a more central part of the curriculum. Art should not be seen as a frilly extra. It should be taught in every grade level, from kindergarten through college.

Third, we need to change the way we think about art. We need to see art as a valuable and essential part of education. We need to recognize that art can help us develop the skills that we need to succeed in the 21st century workplace.

If we make these changes, we can ensure that future generations have the opportunity to experience the benefits of art. We can help them develop their creativity, imagination, and self-expression. And we can help them become more successful, more innovative, and more empathetic.

Art is not just about pretty pictures and catchy tunes. It's a powerful force that can shape our world, solve problems, and make us more human. Let's not cheat our children out of this essential art form.

A Mathematician's Lament: How School Cheats Us Out of Our Most Fascinating and Imaginative Art Form

by Paul Lockhart

4.5 out of 5