The Art of Teaching Art in Early Childhood Education.

The role of arts education has been receiving increasing emphasis in early childhood education. This paper maintains that teaching itself may be considered an artistic, creative activity in the following ways: (1) teaching presents an artistic performance to the student; (2) the teacher has to make judgments during the course of instruction; (3) teaching can become an art if the teacher is not dominated by prescriptions or routines; and (4) results emerge during the instructional interaction. The paper raises questions regarding whether art can be taught and the function of art in education. The unique and valuable contribution of art to knowledge is proposed through an examination of the functions of the brain and the discursive and nondiscursive modes of knowledge. The purposes of art education are presented, focusing on its role in early childhood education. The paper then considers three aims of early childhood art education: (1) personal fulfillment and creative development; (2) social consciousness and the awareness of art in society; and (3) transmission of one's and others' cultural heritage. Ten additional specific aims and objectives of the visual arts are cited, including ways in which a well-organized, balanced arts program will contribute to the physical development, expressive-psychological development, and the technical-artistic skills development of the young child. (Contains 30 references.) (KB)