BVI - And now I understand what you tried to say to me

How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen
They did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
Vincent (Starry Starry Night) - Don McLean

Discuss the importance of teaching art as a core subject. Why is it important to ensure that there is time set aside in the curriculum, resources (teachers with art background, supplies, community resources) and space provided for art as a separate subject?

Art is a means of communication that I feel is based a lot more on an individuals expression of a emotions from an experience. Though sometimes it can be, sometimes it just can't be expressed in another way. Art is a development of so many different skills and understandings which is why I feel it should be an important core subject. Though you can say all subjects in school promote a child to explore their emotions, communication, themselves as an individual, confidence and numerous other things, I feel art does have it's own unique benefits.

Art presents a means in which a student can express themselves as an individual by applying skills, concepts, and theories. Many teaching methods of other subjects in school strive for a student to memorize and theorize, yet not apply their knowledge. In order to do well in school a student only has to regurgitate and recite whatever the teacher has given them to learn, may it be out of textbooks or handouts. Art is application since a piece of art cannot be duplicated. Though a student may be inspired by a piece of work, the teacher can encourage the student to put their own personality into it, making the student grow in their understanding of themselves as well as what art is.

There are so many facets of art as well that students can explore. Art is a subject that molds itself to whatever the learner needs and wants to explore. The development of the student is complimented by what they see in their art and others to create something they are proud of. Though Art can be included in different subjects of the school curriculum, in many ways art is minimalism and simplified to the point of being crafty or not really teaching anything about art to the students. Art is a complex subject that needs it's own environment, materials, and teachers. Without the complete 'pack', Art could be lost to misunderstanding and left to the students as drawing what you see is all it is.

Art can be an expensive subject, mentally, physically, and even financially. Support of Art as a core subject would need to be funded and supported by teachers that understand what Art education entails. Without a higher understanding of the complexity of art, art is simplified and rendered something much less valuable to a learner. It seems that this is probably the most common problem in schools, that they do not have the resources to provide such an extensive art education. Though it is hard, I imagine a lot of work and time, it is something that the current education should look into.