Art as a Core Subject, by Vicky

Recently, there has been a great deal of controversy about the necessity of the Art class in the school program. It is strongly believed that the other subjects like Mathematics, Science, and Language and Literature are more significant for the pupils' education than Art. That said, I am of the opinion that art-related subjects should not be frowned upon, as they can raise the students' cultural awareness and also lay the foundation for the development of a multitude of skills.

More specifically, through art-related subjects, pupils have the opportunity to learn about the history of art, the art and culture of their country, and to be exposed to foreign culture and works of art. By trying to describe, analyze and even criticize the various works of art, children gradually get used to exploring their environment and broaden their horizons. In addition, they learn to express themselves, their feelings in a more creative way and develop critical thinking skills. Moreover, while working all together as a team though theater plays, music performances and so on, they improve their socializing and communication skills.

Despite these advantages, the opponents of this view maintain that art classes are only a waste of time and therefore students should focus on their mainstream subjects, which, according to them, are more important for their academic and professional achievement. However, I am convinced that if we were to abolish art subjects, students would have not only a monotonous school program, without a pleasant interval from the other core subjects, but would be deprived of the many associated cognitive benefits, too.

Taking all of the above into consideration, it is evident that art opens up children's minds, broadens their horizons and helps them grow as persons. It is imperative that we oppose to the exclusion of art from the school curriculum to ensure that we provide the younger generations with a well-rounded education as this will definitely lead them to find the way to change and make a better world for all of us.