Arts education: preparing today’s students for creative thinking and evolving career opportunities
A diverse arts program helps students experience and experiment with new skills and interests.
By Kevin Yaley, Head of Francis Parker School
In his best-selling work entitled A Whole New Mind, writer Dan Pink explains that today’s educators must change their approach to arts in education in order to effectively prepare students for life in the working world of the future. Tomorrow’s professional landscape will not be as we once imagined it; and in order to arm college graduates for the inevitable unknowns that will soon replace our expectations, it is essential to incorporate greater balance between traditional skill sets – such as logic, analysis, sequential and linear thinking – and those abilities that expand student horizons through greater flexibility, such as holistic, inventive and empathetic thinking.
Together, these capabilities will help students bring both conventional and imaginative assets to the proverbial table – and better prepare them for an as-yet uncharted economic and social future. A close look at independent schools reveals a clear focus on incorporating these ideas into student curricula – and Francis Parker School is no exception. At Parker, we recognize the essential role that the arts play in the development of our students; and we take pride in the distinctive arts education program that sets our school apart from many other institutions of its kind. Ours is a thorough and engaging introduction to the arts that contributes to our educational missions of global citizenship, social engagement and creativity – and as such, we believe it is an integral part of a comprehensive and effective college preparatory education.
Fostering curiosity, creativity and fun: the arts program at Francis Parker School
Parker students of all ages participate in our premier arts education program, which consists of visual and performing arts opportunities as well as studies in theater, film, fine arts and media culture. In keeping with our mission to provide an arts foundation that is at once lively and rich in its own right and also complementary to other areas of our curriculum, we make it possible for students to explore and experiment with new artistic interests and talents while simultaneously teaching artistic perception, cultural appreciation and aesthetic valuing skills to enhance the educational experience as a whole.
Art is a vital component in the development and success of civilizations – and as such, a necessary and important consideration in every nations and culture across the globe. To see, comprehend, value and share the arts with one another is a pursuit central to human endeavors; and in today’s changing job market, it is also a valuable skill that no student should be without. To find out more about the arts program at Francis Parker School, or to get detailed information about our full San Diego private school curriculum, visit us online today: www.francisparker.org.
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Posted by Social Media Staff
on Dec 30 2011. Filed under Columns, Kevin Yaley, Sponsored Columns.
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