Why Arts Education is as Important as English, Stem, and Social Studies

An article by Lester W. Young, Jr., Chancellor, Board of Regents

I recently spoke at an event at the Louis Armstrong Center in Queens, a magnificent venue on the street that was once home to the jazz legend. Armstrong was one of many jazz musicians who lived in Queens in the 1940s and 1950s. As described in a recent New York Times article:

“Jazz clubs were in Harlem. But jazz musicians lived on the tree-lined streets of Queens … Black jazz virtuosos sought solace in the neighborhoods where their racial identity was welcomed.”

My father was among those artists, and I spent my early years surrounded by the vibrant, creative energy of this community. So, I was delighted to be invited to the Louis Armstrong Center to talk about the value of arts education.

I had a receptive audience—the New York City Arts in Education Roundtable. The group’s mission is to elevate and enhance arts education in New York City’s schools and communities.

Like many school board members, I believe that ALL students need arts education. It fosters the kind of creativity and mental flexibility our students will need to succeed in today’s economy.

In the words of arts educator Kelly Pollock:

“The true purpose of arts education is not necessarily to create more professional dancers or artists. It’s to create more complete human beings who are critical thinkers, who have curious minds, who can lead productive lives.”

Three Reasons Why School Leaders Should Support Comprehensive Arts Education
1. Research confirms the obvious: Students who study and engage in artistic endeavors are more likely to think creatively and to bring new ways of looking at a problem.
2. 21st-century skills: When we talk about the skills needed to compete in the modern economy, we’re talking about the ability to think in creative and divergent ways.
3. A well-rounded education: To be truly educated, students must not only learn to appreciate the arts but also have rich opportunities to actively participate in creative work.

Additionally, the public supports arts education. According to a recent Ipsos survey:

91% of Americans believe the arts are a vital part of a well-rounded education for K-12 students.
84% believe that arts and STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math) complement each other well.

I believe that the arts are as important to a student’s overall educational experience as core subjects such as English, math, science, and social studies. So are foreign languages, career and technical education, financial literacy, graphic design, and countless others.

Students who take a wide array of courses have more opportunities to discover what interests them and what they may have an aptitude for. They are better equipped to become the kinds of people they want to be, doing the kinds of work they want to do.

Arts education provides students with invaluable experiences that broaden their horizons and foster a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.

The key to successful teaching and learning has always been to keep students engaged in the process. That’s precisely the approach we’re taking in our work to reimagine New York’s high school graduation requirements.

We will provide students with multiple opportunities to demonstrate what they know and are able to do. We will provide them with new pathways to graduation—pathways that are both engaging and rigorous.

The arts must be more than electives serving a small subset of students. We must ensure that arts education plays an essential role in public education, helping all students become well-rounded, culturally literate, and empathetic individuals.

Lester W. Young, Jr., Chancellor, Board of Regents