Why Arts Should not be Mandatory in Schools

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
Why Arts Should not be Mandatory in Schools
Education is important to learners as it does not only equip them with knowledge, but also foresees their psychological growth and development. In school, the learners study different subjects that range from arts to sciences. Each of these subjects shape their cognitive development in different ways. Studying arts helps foster intellectual development among the learners by stimulating both sides of brain development. The subject increases the memory capacity, attention, and concentration spans among the learners (Burt). It also helps enhance the reading and thinking skills in other subjects including mathematics and science. Despite these contributions, the subject should only be mandated to learners up to a certain developmental age beyond which they should not be forced to take it.
The argument that arts help expand the learner’s memory and critical thinking skills are valid. However, it is important to note that people’s brain develop fully develops around the age of 25 years, beyond which no meaningful development occurs. Taking art classes up to a certain age will help facilitate an all-round growth and development among these learners. However, as the learners grow, they develop other interests, which they direct their focus on. At the time when these learners develop interests in specific subjects, continuing to teach them arts will not add any significant value to their development process. Instead, the learners will perform poorly in such subjects, which will only increase their hatred of the topics. The hatred will amount to defiance, whereby they will not engage in any significant discussions as they will perceive them as distractors to the subjects that they enjoy learning. When these learners do not realize their full potential because of being forced to undertake subjects ...