Why Art Classes Matter as Much as Academics

By Liliana Grange and Eliza Argo

The arts are just as important as academics in school because they help students develop creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression. All of these skills are just as important as math, or science. Through music, drama, cooking, and visual arts, students can learn how to communicate ideas in different ways and gain confidence in expressing themselves. It can be a great escape from academics, regardless of whether you aspire to be an artist or not. Art encourages students to gain problem solving and team building skills which are essential in everyday life and many careers. Without art education, schools would only focus on one side of a student's potential, instead of encouraging them to grow into well-rounded individuals. We interviewed and asked a few of our art teachers at GISS three questions and here were their responses:

#1 Why are the arts important?

Ms. Footz - “The arts are very important because they can help people express how they feel. It's really helpful for connection, creativity, and mental health. It's a way to connect with people without using social media and brings people together.” 

Mr. Ouhammou - “Art is like bread in the pocket of the hungry. It's not a luxury, it's a necessity.” 

Chef - “Art is history. Art is in cooking. The way you plate your dish is one of the most important factors because you eat with your eyes first.” 

#2 Why are the arts important in an academic context?

Ms. Footz - “Certain arts can help with hand/eye coordination, reading, writing, language, movement, and storytelling. It uses different parts of the brain and can be a nice break from regular academics.” 

Mr. Ouhammou - “It's a part of humanities, and without humanities the world would be a wilderness.” 

Chef - “It represents a time and place in history. Not everyone wants to be a scholar, so it's important to give them space for their passions. It can also be a safe zone space to give students a break and take away some of the pressures of academics.” 

#3 Why did you choose to teach the arts?

Ms. Foots - “I'm very passionate about music and wanted to be able to share that and give people an outlet. It's important not only for the students who want careers in the arts but also those who just enjoy it as a hobby.” 

Mr. Ouhammou - “It's my calling. It's my passion. That's the way I breathe.“

Chef - “I was a professional chef for a really long time, and it got to a point where I would just get so stressed out. So, one Friday night I had a bit of a breakdown where I couldn't take the pressure, and I started to think about what I really wanted to do. I loved doing apprenticeships and teaching the culinary arts.”