LOSE THE ARTS, LOSE THE STUDENT

By Alice Cotton

There is now research available that proves that the arts define and inspire the best of who we are as human beings. The arts are instrumental in developing the creative aspects of the human mind that can think critically, visualize solutions and solve great problems. The arts help to create whole human beings that are more sensitive to their surroundings and more aware of the inner resources that sustain and enhance human life. So why are the arts the first to go when schools are faced with budget cuts? Why don’t we cut social studies or spelling? Or better yet, instead of making the arts a separate class with a separate curriculum, why don’t we train our teachers to intertwine the arts with

academics? An educational paradigm shift or perhaps a return to an ancient one?

Wrestling with these questions, artist, author, teacher, Alice Cotton has committed her art and her business to creating a new paradignm for education where the curriculum for students and teachers intertwine the arts such as visual art, design, and architecture with academics such as math, science and history. She has developed activities that make the “boring” or seemingly heartless subjects come alive and remain challenging, even inspirational to her students. “Our children will be facing global problems we cannot even begin to understand. Let’s give them a real chance by keeping the arts healthy and alive in our schools,” says Alice, “and not just alive, but wrapped around every academic subject and embraced in every single thing we do.”

“Imagination is more important than knowledge”.

Albert Einstein