the arts

               Although I am not a participant in the arts per se, I can definitely see the advantages of children being able to learn and enjoy them in a school environment.  I say per se because I am an avid reader of fantasy/science fiction.  I believe that I am the person I am today because of my early start in reading.  There are just so many lessons that are displayed in the books that have a real world impact.  When I think of the advantages to the arts the main one that I think of is individuality.  Art is a reflection of the artist.  Being able to express oneself through painting, dancing, or poetry helps children develop a more thorough understanding of themselves.  In addition to that it allows a bit of passion and release from the hum drum monotony of learning things like math and history.  This brings to mind the story of the girl everyone thought was unintelligent who turned out to be a fantastic dancer and made a successful career out of it.  How many Van Goghs or Mozarts are we removing from society by taking the opportunity to discover the passion that lies just under the surface away from the students?