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"Art as Teacher, Art as Tool"

By Jennifer North

In a world where children spend more time inactively watching television than they do learning in school, their ability to process words and symbols is being adversely affected. Offsetting this imbalance are the countless ways the visual and performing arts assist children in mastering a complex world filled with an overabundance of sounds and images. In fact, there is clear evidence that children with an exposure to arts education score higher on both the verbal and math portions of the SATs. Arts education can provide other benefits as well.

Harvard professor Howard Gardner, believes in nine different types of intelligence that define a broad range of human potential. These "multiple intelligences" each provide a unique pathway to learning. The theory suggests that all children can excel at scientific, mathematical and linguistic learning if the proper methods are employed to teach them.

Earlier this year, papermaker Winnie Radolan taught students from six schools about the endangered horseshoe crab. Students were able to correlate the natural plant fibers used to make paper with the properties of horseshoe crabs that are commonly used for pharmaceuticals. Through her lessons, students made an unusual connection between paper pulp suspended in water and the endangered sea creatures. Students were then challenged to create drawings and poetry on their handmade paper that would be used to educate others about the blight of the horseshoe crab.

Like the Horseshoe Crab Project, materials used to create art-clay, wood, fiber-often foster a bond between the artist and the natural world. And the tools employed to master these materials, whether a simple piece of charcoal or a complex violin bow, feel good in the hand and help to develop brain function and physical stamina.

Take percussion for example. The rhythm of percussion forms the foundation of the entire musical composition. The process of learning percussion not only requires the development of hand/eye coordination, but also creates a symbiotic relationship of hand and ear. Percussion instruments are often large and playing them takes a tremendous amount of physical stamina. Yet the simplicity of a hand drum or a triangle can create a meditative repetition that even young children can master. A group of children coordinating percussion instruments develop social relationships that put each child on equal footing, regardless of background.

Other media present examples as well. Theater can allow a shy child to put on a new face, giving them permission to experiment. Through the magic of choreography, dance can provide even the most introverted child with confidence. Not only can visual art teach about science, but also history, culture and even math. Creating something beautiful from a blank page may seem like a simple pleasure, but the effect has a positive impact that lasts well into adulthood.

When searching for tools that encourage hands-on, active learning, parents and educators need look no further than the cultural resources our region has to offer. Local community art centers, continuing education programs, theaters and museums provide an abundance of opportunity right here in your own backyard.

Jennifer North is the Public Relations and Marketing Director at Perkins Center for the Arts. Located in Moorestown, New Jersey, the Center offers visual and performing arts classes, music lessons, exhibitions, concerts, special events and a progressive community outreach program. For more information, please call (856) 235-6488 or visit www.perkinscenter.org.