Why Our Schools Need the Arts

This inspiring book leads the way to a new kind of advocacy—one that stops justifying the arts as useful to learning other subjects, and argues instead for the powerful lessons that the arts, like no other subjects, teach our children. Jessica Hoffmann Davis, a leading voice in the field of arts education, offers a set of principles and tools that will be invaluable to advocates already working hard to make the case and secure a strong place for the arts in education. She also reaches out to those who care deeply about education but have yet to consider what the arts uniquely provide. This book is for anyone willing to brave a new terrain in which the arts are finally embraced without apology!

“A must-read for anyone who cares about kids.”
—Carly Simon, author and musician

“Equips educators with clear examples of how to teach and how to make the case for the essential and unique place of the arts in the school curriculum.”
—Richard J. Deasy, Director, Arts Education Partnership

“Jessica Hoffmann Davis makes the best case yet for why the arts are essential to every child’s education, every day. Providing eloquent evidence of what the arts do and teach, this is a useful handbook for teachers and arts advocates with a glossary of terms and strong examples of effective programs.”
—Ellen McCulloch-Lovell, President, Marlboro College