Your support for art education programs and funding is essential, especially with our country’s political climate right now. The way in which our government and society view art education is being threatened by the current political decisions proposed in our country. Specifically, “President Trump’s proposed federal budget for the 2026 fiscal year (that) threatens the accessibility and equity of arts education for students nationwide” (Aars).
These proposed budget cuts will cut K-12 funding by more than $4.5 billion and the effects will be devastating for the future of art education programs specifically. They will not only cause a severe reduction in arts education across the nation, but they will also send the message that art is not worth the time and money that core tested subjects like math and English are (Aars).
It is important to support and advocate for art education programs, especially during this time, because they support the growth of the whole child. Art education creates a well-rounded education because it encourages the intellectual, emotional, and social growth of our students. Education should not be reduced to job training or standardized testing, but instead offer multiple different kinds of studies that support all aspects of the child. Art classrooms not only offer our students knowledge about and the capability to create art, but they also help to create balanced individuals and encourage personal development. One important intellectual aspect that participation in the art classroom helps develop is critical thinking skills. In these modern times where our society’s critical thinking skills are rapidly declining due to use of generative AI, supporting the development of these critical skills is more important than ever. The study of art, particularly through art criticism and interpreting arts, strengthens critical and analytical thinking skills. Having art interpretation skills will be particularly useful in modern times when determining whether videos or posts you see on the internet are AI generated.
The idea of art education being essential because it is a necessary outlet for self expression and creativity has been reiterated for centuries. Specifically, Modern and Progressive educators believed that students should express their own thoughts and individuality through the creation of art in the art education classroom. Students are able to express themselves in the art education classroom in ways that they cannot in the general education classroom, supporting the development of their sense of self and passions in life. In a time where the focus of academics is prioritizing core and standardized tested subjects, art education becomes even more important because it also serves as safe spaces where students can gain skills that they may not be able to in those core classes. With art education classes that serve as creative outlets and safe spaces, students are able to socialize, collaborate, problem solve, and express themselves freely.
One philosopher who also advocated for the importance of art education and how it supports a well-rounded education was John Dewey. John Dewey was an American philosopher and education reformer who challenged traditional views on art (Riedler). Dewey was one of the leaders for the Progressive education movement and argued that education is more than just memorizing, testing, and listening to lectures. His impact on education changed the values of education towards one that emphasizes student interest, motivation, cooperation, and experience (Gibbon). These values contributed to art education because they shifted the view of art from one that focuses on copying exercises and industrial methods to one that values active experiences, creativity, problem solving, self-expression, collaboration, hands-on learning, and critical thinking.
Dewey’s ideas are still relevant today because they emphasize the importance and value of art education. In modern times when the importance and value of art education is debated, Dewey’s ideas can still be brought up to argue why art is valuable and essential in education. As I mentioned before, art education programs are important because they support the emotional, social, and intellectual growth of our students and help serve as a necessary outlet for creative and self expression. Many of Dewey’s philosophies and ideas about education can still be used today to further emphasize the importance of art education.
After hearing about the importance and value of art education through the eyes of a current university student and future art educator, I hope that you can better understand why we need advocates like you to help support these programs. These programs are essential in providing our students with a whole, well-rounded education. They are necessary to help support our students’ emotional, social, and intellectual growth and provide a valuable outlet for creative and self expression. In modern times when these programs are being threatened, we need advocates like you now more than ever. When art education is not prioritized or funded adequately, we will fail to meet the needs of our students and be unable to provide them with a well-rounded education. In order to ensure the future success of not only these programs, but also our future generations, I hope that you will continue to advocate for art education programs to be adequately funded and valued.
Works Cited
Aars, E. (2026, February 25). Arts education is not optional for a healthy democracy — Columbia Political Review. Columbia Political Review. https://www.cpreview.org/articles/2026/2/lwgztik8sv45qtoxzvrd7jjklu0v7k
Gibbon, Peter. “John Dewey: Portrait of a Progressive Thinker.” National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), 2019, http://www.neh.gov/article/john-dewey-portrait-progressive-thinker.
Riedler, Martina. “The Artful Life as Transactional Process: How John Dewey Connects Art, Democracy, and Everyday Experience.” International Journal of Progressive Education, vol. 20, 2024, p. 2024, ijpe.inased.org/files/2/manuscript/manuscript_4474/ijpe-4474-manuscript-115413.pdf, https://doi.org/10.29329/ijpe.2024.657.4.
