INTRODUCTION

PHILOSOPHY

Part of Life

The arts have been part of life from the very beginning. They have described, defined, and deepened human experience. All people have an abiding need for meaning--to connect time and space, experience and event, body and spirit, intellect and emotion. We create art to make these connections, to express the otherwise inexpressible. A society without the arts is unimaginable.

Connections

The arts connect each new generation to those who have gone before, equipping the newcomers in their own pursuit of the abiding questions: Who am I? What must I do? Where am I going? Simultaneously, the arts initiate change, challenging old perspectives from fresh angles of vision, or offering original interpretations of familiar ideas. The arts disciplines each provide their own unique ways of thinking. At another level, the arts are society's gift to itself, linking hope to memory, inspiring courage, enriching our celebrations, and making our tragedies bearable. The arts are a source of enjoyment and delight, providing the "Aha!" of discovery when we see ourselves in a new way, grasp a deeper insight, or find our imaginations refreshed. Every generation has been preoccupied with the arts because they bring us face to face with ourselves, and with what we sense lies beyond.

Embedded

The arts are deeply embedded in our daily life, often so deeply or subtly that we are unaware of their presence. The office manager who has never studied painting may nevertheless select a living-room picture with great care. A couple who would never think of taking in a ballet are nonetheless avid square dancers. The arts are everywhere in our lives, adding depth and dimension to the environment we live in, shaping our experience daily. The arts are a powerful economic force as well, from fashion, to the creativity and design that go into every manufactured product, to architecture, to the performance and entertainment arts that have grown into multibillion-dollar industries. We cannot escape the arts--nor would we want to.

Inseparable

For all these reasons and many more, the arts have been an inseparable part of the human journey; indeed, we depend on the arts to carry us toward the fullness of our humanity. We value them for themselves, and because we do, we believe knowing and practicing them is fundamental to the healthy development of children 's minds and spirits. That is why, in any civilization--ours included--the arts are inseparable from the very meaning of the term ''education.'' We know from long experience that no one can claim to be truly educated who lacks basic knowledge and skills in the arts.

If our civilization is to be both dynamic and nurturing, its success will ultimately depend on how well we develop the capacities of our children, not only to earn a living in our complex world, but to live a life rich in meaning. To achieve this quality of life requires a vital connection to one or more of the arts disciplines, which like any subject, demand discipline and study.

This document identifies what children must know and be able to do as a result of a comprehensive arts education. A mere nodding acquaintance with the arts is not enough to sustain children's interest or involvement in them. The arts will help them discover who they are, and what is even more important, who they can become.

<< Back | Table of Contents | Next >>