Core Values

• High quality arts education programs
• Systemic and sequential arts education
• Equitable access for all Maryland school children

AEMS believes Arts Education, learning in and through the arts, is important because it:

• Nurtures the Imagination and Engages Children in Learning = Strong Students
  • The arts and culture are a vital part of a young person’s life and a powerful teaching technique when integrated into the learning process
    • The imagination is our most powerful tool and is the essential capacity that enables us to aspire.
    • Arts Education engages the child, decreases boredom and motivates students to learn (Critical Links/Critical Evidence)
    • Students at risk of not successfully completing high school cite their participation in the arts as reasons for staying in school
    • Voters across the country believe education should be cultivating the creative potential of this country, specifically the imagination and that the arts are the only way to do this.
• Is part of a complete education of the whole child = Successful Children
  • Learning in and through the arts educates the whole child, fostering self expression and self discovery
  • Quality arts learning contributes to academic achievement and personal success — social and motivational skills that are basic for success in school, work and life
    • In new emerging studies, scientists have found that young people who study music are more likely to understand geometry, while training in acting translates to better functioning memory
    • Schools integrating the arts into curriculum document positive changes in the school environment and improved student performance (UCLA national study)
    • Studies indicate that the arts play a key role in developing social skills and self confidence in educationally or economically disadvantaged youth (Critical Evidence)
    • The nimble thinking and resiliency nurtured through the arts have important application to life’s challenges
    • Research demonstrates that arts activities promote growth in self confidence self control conflict resolution and social tolerance
• Builds Strong Communities
  • Learning in and through the arts fosters teacher innovation, a positive professional culture and school climate, community engagement and increased student attendance
  • The artistic process teaches self – discovery, collaboration, appreciation of team, tolerance and respect, and thus enhances the ability to live effectively in a community
  • An education in and through the arts better positions students to compete in a global workplace:
    • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving » Research, Analysis, Project Management
    • Creativity & Innovation » New Knowledge Creation, Design Solutions, Artful Storytelling
    • Collaboration, Teamwork & Leadership » Cooperation, Compromise, Consensus, Community Building
    • Cross Cultural Understanding » Across Diverse Ethnic, Knowledge & Organizational Cultures
    • Communication & Media Fluency » Creating and Analyzing Messages & Using Media Effectively
    • Career & Learning Self-Reliance » Managing Chance, Lifelong learning and Career redefinition
    • Computing & ICT Fluency » Effective use of Electronic Information and Knowledge Tools (Partnership for 21st Century Learning)
  • The artistic processes contribute to understanding the discipline of problem solving, the processes behind decision making, dissecting a problem and working with a team toward resolution
  • Arts Education nurtures the genius within a community – without arts education societies may fail to reap the benefits of the genius within