Art in Education
On the heels of the Upper School arts festival, SOLA, Ms. Roberts shares how she sees the value of the arts in education.
Art class plays a vital role in providing a well-rounded education, particularly for boys, by fostering essential 21st-century skills. While more academic subjects like math and science often focus on logical reasoning and analytical skills, visual art provides a unique platform for students to explore their imagination, express themselves and develop critical thinking abilities. The freedom the studio creates encourages them to think outside the box and explore unconventional solutions to problems — which, for many, can be quite challenging. By engaging in artistic endeavours, boys can tap into their creativity and develop a deep understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Through artistic projects from drawing and painting to sculpting and installation creation, Crescent boys learn to identify challenges, experiment with various techniques and adapt their approach to find innovative solutions. I prefer to teach by giving guidance, cheerleading and seeing where each student wants to head when given a project then having them follow me. If you’ve seen the large-scale sculptures that were recently in the hallway, you’ll see this in action. Each student starts with the same outline and materials yet they reflect on their own interests and life to create unique and personal works. I aim to encourage this in each project we embark on.
I believe art teaches students to approach problems with an open mind, explore different perspectives and embrace ambiguity. By embracing their artistic side, boys can become confident and innovative thinkers — invaluable skills to have in life. These skills enable boys to tackle complex problems with creativity and find unique solutions in various domains from entrepreneurship to scientific research and beyond.
