Art Education in the Philippines

Art Education Overview

• Definition: Teaching and learning focused on visual arts, including drawing, painting, and sculpture.
• Distinction: Separate from educational programs in music, dance, and theater.

Art Education in the Philippines

• Influenced by American Education: Evolved from American educational philosophy introduced during the early 20th century.
• Colonial Context: Developed as a response to the transition from Spanish to American colonial rule.

Historical Context of Art Education in the Philippines

• Art education emerged as a result of American educational philosophy introduced during the early 20th century.
• Santiago identifies three distinct periods in the evolution of art education: The Experimental Period, The New Movement, and The Newer Movement.

The Experimental Period (1915-1935)

• Focus on drawing as the primary art form, where students learned mostly through imitation.
• Instructional methods were characterized as dull and authoritarian.
• Early attempts aimed to link drawing with other subjects like English and industrial works.

The New Movement (1935-1950)

• Vicente Dizon played a pivotal role in advancing art education philosophy for both elementary and secondary education.
• Shift towards a more practical approach in the teaching of art began.

The Newer Movement (1950-Present)

• Art education officially recognized as a subject in 1950, transitioning from "Drawing" to a broader form of art education.
• Pablo Victoria integrated art into various subjects; his significant work, "Art in the Elementary School," highlights teachers' and students’ roles in art education.
• The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) serves as the main policy-making entity for arts and culture in the Philippines.
• Art education is incorporated into the Basic Education Curriculum through the MAPEH subject, providing 4 hours of art instruction weekly from Grades 1-10.
• A specialized Arts Track for senior high students was introduced in 2016 as part of the K to 12 program, enrolling around 4,400 students by 2017.

Benefits of Art Education

• Enhances creative problem-solving abilities and makes complex concepts more comprehensible through visual representation.
• Supports development in motor skills, language, social skills, and critical thinking.
• Visual arts instruction teaches essential techniques like color, layout, perspective, and balance for effective academic presentations.
• Engaging with the arts can capture the interest of students who might otherwise disengage from traditional academic settings.
• Participation in arts correlates with higher rates of academic recognition and achievement, including awards in writing, math, and science.
• Increases attendance, graduation rates, and standardized test scores, while reducing disciplinary issues.

Challenges in Art Education

• Teaching is not a preferred career path for many Filipinos; there exists a devaluation of the profession.
• Art educators often struggle with self-esteem issues, feeling inadequate as artists and questioning the financial viability of careers in the arts.
• Art is seen merely as a subject rather than a means of self-expression, leading to a focus on academic knowledge instead of creative practice.
• Inadequate teacher training perpetuates a narrow, rigid view of art appreciation and creation.
• Student motivation is hampered by negative feedback cycles from family and peers, compounded by poor respect for art materials leading to waste and disorganization, frustrating educators.

Explore the history and evolution of art education in the Philippines, focusing on its origins and the influence of American educational philosophies. This quiz delves into the impact of colonization on visual arts teaching, including drawing and painting. Test your knowledge on the milestones that shaped art instruction in the country.