It’s no secret that math and the sciences have long been seen as intellectually superior to art and music. While the pursuit of fields like medicine and engineering are regarded as rigorous and undoubtedly require a level of dedication few people possess, going into liberal arts is wrongly viewed as taking the easy way out. Arts programs are the first cut from school curriculums when funding is short because as a society we look at this particular passion as a hobby, a creative outlet after a long day of work at a “real job” or a seemingly useless skill set.
However, a report by Americans for the Arts found that children who regularly practice the arts are four times more likely to be recognized for various academic accomplishments, and excel not only in writing but also in math and science. In addition, those children who implement art into their daily schedules are three times more likely to be awarded for consistent school attendance. But while federal funding for the sciences has a hefty $5 billion budget yearly, funding for arts and humanities must work with a measly $250 million, a massive imbalance. Because the merits of the arts are rarely vocalized, it is easily shrugged off as a mere amusement or extracurricular activity. It is not until we educate ourselves on the mental, spiritual and even physical benefits of the arts that they will be valued as an integral part of education and daily life.
Subjects like music, writing and art give young children the ability to express themselves, and it has been proven to cause improvement in all facets of their education as well as aid in areas of mental and emotional development such as confidence and self worth. From a university perspective, it is true that sometimes we scoff at the Fine Arts undergraduate requirement and eagerly find whichever class we feel will be easiest to buffer all our “core classes.” However, a music or theatre course has just as much benefit to our educational progression as an anatomy or math course. These same arts courses aren’t just there to boost a GPA, but can actually improve grades in other courses we may deem more difficult. The proof is there when we look at countries where arts and music education programs are mandatory, such as Japan, the Netherlands and Hungary. These same countries regularly rank as some of the highest for test scores in math and the sciences.
The arts not only benefit education but have also proven beneficial to mental and physical health. The documentary “Alive Inside,” which premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival and walked away with the Audience Favorite award, chronicles how music therapy aids in improving the quality of life for elderly people suffering from Alzheimers and dementia. Listening to music from their childhood actually triggered elongated periods of memory retrieval for various people who participated in the therapy. Music therapy is also being used to treat mental illnesses and is known to improve social functioning among schizophrenics. It provides comfort and eases symptoms for those suffering from anxiety and depression disorders.
While registering for Spring Semester at the U, many students, myself included, probably sought out at least one “easy” arts course with the goal of putting in minimal work and still getting a decent grade. But we must keep in mind that the purpose of these courses isn’t to skim by. The arts have real value, proven benefits and deserve as much stature as other fields of study.