Full STEAM Ahead: Analyzing the Importance of Arts Education Programs in American Public-School Systems, and Why They Should be Taken as Seriously as Their Academic Counterparts

Abstract

For this paper, I chose to map out the way I think art education programs should be represented in American public-school systems, seeing as how there is such an unequal representation of the arts in public schools across the country. I will start off my paper by discussing how the arts have been introduced and represented through American history, starting out in the 17th century. I will then go on to talk about the benefits of arts education programs, as well as the benefits of having the arts be included in STEM to make STEAM, as I feel this is an integral step towards making the arts more accessible and funded. From there, I will write about funding issues revolving around the arts, and how this is the main contender to the arts not being equally represented in school curriculums. Finally, I will conclude my paper by talking about COVID-19's effect on art education programs across the country, and if anything, what good has surfaced from these unprecedented times.