I love art for many reasons, but one that I have been thinking about the most as of late is how it prepares people to be good humans in their adult life. I am a firm believer that if we all made sure to include some kind of creative or artistic endeavor we would all be more connected to our humanity. Studying art teaches us how to observe the people and their intentions. We think more about the "why" and put ourselves in other peoples shoes. When we critique art, we often go beyond what we see in a painting, and also take into consideration the artist and their life, where they were from, and what techniques they used. Teaching kids how to do this can help familiarize them with this high level of "seeking to understand", that can only help them later on.

I think that art is one of the most common ways students are taught about diversity. They are able to explore different cultures, eras, and perspectives in a way that appeals to their senses. When children see portraits, touch sculptures, or listen to music, they can be exposed to a whole new world that they otherwise wouldn't have access to. Beyond human diversity, it's also interesting to see how art can put on display the diverseness in our personalities. I love art projects that have the same prompt, but give students the freedom to make it their own. Doing a gallery walk and getting to see all of the differences is so fun.