Because I have children.
Because I’m an artist.
Because I love art.
I’m worried.
I’m worried about the state of “Visual Literacy” and it’s correlation, or lack thereof, in our education system here in America.
Most of our experiences in this world are mediated in photography or art. The general public is not visually oriented/skilled/educated.
Does it matter?
Yes.
It.
Does.
The public education systems do not educate our children in the fundamentals of visual literacy and we have a culture that exploits the use of photography while simultaneously disregarding the inherent value of photography and art.
It’s sad. Or worse…
It’s easy to discern the signs of a “literate” person but how do we recognize a “visually literate” person?
“Visual intelligence is defined as the ability to both understand and express an image’s significance” – Daile Kaplan
There’s more. Imagination. Curiosity. Discovery.
Do we use pictorial integration in our education materials enough in today’s public education learning environments? Is it important?
I think it’s very important that we consider where the United States ranks in education.
NEWS FLASH! U.S.A. isn’t number 1!
Not in these aspects anyway. If you’re concerned about where we are in GDP and worry about the future financial situation of our country it starts with fixing our foundation. It starts with our children. It’s our education systems that need an overhaul.
“Schoolchildren exposed to drama, music and dance may do a better job at mastering reading, writing and math than those who focus solely on academics, says a report by the Arts Education Partnership.” USATODAY
Better educated students create better workers who posses the ability to use cognitive and creative thinking skills for better problem solving in the workplace. Better workers.
Further, the more well rounded individuals who have learned to appreciate art and can visualize problems can also visualize success. These are our future entrepreneurs and inventors. These are our future Steve Jobs’ and Bill Gates’ of America and they need the learned skills of tapping into both sides of their brains.
School officials and concerned parents often complain that arts programs are the first to get cut during financial budget cuts. This needs to stop. Now.
You, and I, fix this with our voices. We fix this with our votes.
In the meantime…we take our children, and ourselves, to museums. We support the fine arts communities in our neighborhoods. We support the fine arts communities around our nation.
When was the last time you took your kiddo to a museum/gallery/musical/theatre? What are you waiting for? What’s your excuse?
