<p> Adapted from the National Art Education Association website: Why Art Education? http://www.arteducators.org/advocacy/why-art-education Adapted from the National Art Education Association website: http://www.arteducators.org/advocacy/why-art-education 1. Art helps students build self-esteem through creative problem solving. 1. Art helps students build self-esteem through Through the art making process, students learn what creative problem solving. quality work means. They learn how to work through Through the art making process, students learn what creative problems to the best of their abilities. This quality work means. They learn how to work through helps them develop self-motivation and self-esteem. creative problems to the best of their abilities. This These qualities are essential for life in the 21st helps them develop self-motivation and self-esteem. Century, where creative minds are needed to solve These qualities are essential for life in the 21st some of our most challenging problems. Century, where creative minds are needed to solve some of our most challenging problems. 2. Art helps students develop literacy skills. Art is a language all its own. In art class, students 2. Art helps students develop literacy skills. learn to create, describe, analyze and interpret Art is a language all its own. In art class, students images. Visual literacy is a vital 21st Century skill. Not learn to create, describe, analyze and interpret only does visual literacy compliment traditional writing images. Visual literacy is a vital 21st Century skill. Not and reading skills, it also helps students become only does visual literacy compliment traditional writing informed consumers of the world around them. and reading skills, it also helps students become informed consumers of the world around them. 3. Art helps students have a broad worldview. By being exposed to art and artists from many 3. Art helps students have a broad worldview. different places, students learn to appreciate and By being exposed to art and artists from many celebrate differences. As students grow up in today’s different places, students learn to appreciate and global society, this sensitivity will serve them well. celebrate differences. As students grow up in today’s global society, this sensitivity will serve them well. Want to learn how you can support your child’s arts education? Check out http://www.americansforthearts.org/public_awareness/ Want to learn how you can support your child’s arts education? Check out http://www.americansforthearts.org/public_awareness/ Why Art Education? </p>