Labor of Love: Children & Art Education
Benjamin Franklin was the first to advocate for art education in his book Proposed Hints For An Academy, published in 1792. At the time, training the eye and hand was seen as a technical skill that supported industry and taught a form of self-discipline. Although Massachusetts first instituted the arts as part of the general education program in 1860, national support didn’t arrive until the 1880s with the creation of the National Education Association’s Department of Art. Studies on art’s ability to develop general creative thinking, advance development in cognition, as well as increasing emotional growth continued to be published throughout the late 19th century to the mid-20th. However, this was stunted when a Cold War act emphasizing academic programs that would help the war effort, focusing on math, science, and physical education was passed. Despite this, children's art exchange programs continued to foster peace and friendship even in tense political situations.
Programs like Art for World Friendship and countless studies examining the impact that the visual arts have on childhood and teenage emotional and cognitive development show the power art and art education have to create bridges across even the largest divides. Photographs and drawings from Pejepscot History Center’s collections give us a glimpse into how art education has progressed in local schools since the mid-20th century. With detailed information about how art teachers prioritized the work and the development of the students, despite not always having the funds or space to do so to their full ability, we can see how important art was to those educators. Creating and appreciating art in a classroom setting not only benefits students’ social, emotional, and cognitive well-being but allows them to communicate in a new way and find solace in the midst of sometimes overwhelming educational and social pressures at school. As generations have only become lonelier and more isolated, group creative outlets are of ever-growing importance. This section depicts students creating and exhibiting art - allowing them to feel more connected to themselves, their peers, and the greater community around them.
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