Author: Aprill, Arnold

Publication Year:

Media Type: Periodical (article)

Summary:

Abstract:

Aprill, an arts educator, raises concern that the role of the arts in the development of youth in school has been cast in a way that has boxed the Reviewing Education and the Arts Project (REAP) investigators into hard, opposing positions, rather than open up in a discussion between rigorous researchers and policymakers and practitioners.

Specifically, he sees that the field is mired in three issues:

1. period models of curricular integrity (when today education as whole is responding to the information economy by moving toward a model of integrated instruction);
2. period models of artistic integrity; and
3. a limited notion of student achievement.

Still, the author is hopeful to continue to argue for the arts being an essential, integrated part of instruction for all students.  He goes on to advocate that the arts should not just be a magic bullet to mysteriously elevate test scores, but rather a domain of knowledge at the table in equal status with a wide range of other content areas that can authentically challenge young people to fulfill their capacities.   

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Arts Education