Do the Arts belong in STEM?

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There’s a hot debate on whether the arts belong in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Let’s take a look at the two schools of thought. 

STEM education is such a hit because research shows that students need more in-depth knowledge of math and science. Children who study STEM also develop a variety of skills that are essential for the future workforce such as critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, communication, collaboration and entrepreneurship. 

STEM is a specific program designed for a specific purpose—to integrate and apply knowledge of math and science in order to create technologies and solutions for real-world problems, using an engineering design approach. So, where do the arts fit into the equation?

The arts enthusiasts insist that engineering and technology can certainly serve the artist and help create art. But differing opinion surfaces if we're talking about how one can use art in engineering as an artist. According to arts enthusiasts, then everyone is missing the point and devaluing art’s purpose and importance. In other words, the arts aren’t there to play second leads to math and science.  

STEAM – ‘A’ stands for art – focuses on the critical need for creativity when solving problems, instead of relying solely on memorization and standard formulas. “A rounded education means you have to have some sense of expression. That’s what the STEAM concept is all about,” Lee Baumgarten, a former professor turned full-time artist says. “The arts bring in the creativity. You can’t really redefine anything without some kind of creativity.” Baumgarten is passionate about putting the ‘A’ back to where it belongs – in STEM.  

Harvard University education professor Howard Gardner feels the same way, "I have no hesitation in saying we need to add the letter A. An education devoid of arts…is an empty, half-brain kind of education." 

One thing that both schools of thoughts agree on is that the old education system is lacking. “A hundred years ago we devised a school system where you sit in rows. You don’t ask questions. You listen and learn and memorize,” Baumgarten says. But this system doesn’t cut it anymore. 
What the world needs now is creative problem solvers and Baumgarten thinks adding the arts into the mix will do the trick. “We’re in trouble because we don’t have innovative thinkers,” Baumgarten said. “We’ve got people that have learned how to deal with a template, but to make one themselves, they don’t know how to do that.” 

Artist and educator-turned-STEAM-enthusiast Ruth Catchen is also on team STEAM and believes that in our technically-focused world, we have a responsibility to educate the whole child to become a global citizen in his or her community. 

Brian Andrew Dunning, writer and producer who focuses on skepticism made it clear that the arts do not belong in STEM. In Dunning’s blog, skepticblog.org, he says arts are important, but they are not in STEM for good reasons. Some of the reasons he cited include the fact that US companies are constantly lobbying in Congress to allow more foreign holders of advanced STEM degrees to have permanent resident status, because such experts are in high demand. There is no corresponding demand for students in the arts. STEM is especially important for women, as there are still severe shortages in the number of women who pursue them. Arts suffer no shortage of women. 

Dunning has his points but he is essentially saying that there is a shortage of STEM- qualified employees in the U.S. and around the globe. But his arguments are too focused on the demand and supply of STEM-qualified graduates. Who is to say that STEAM-qualified graduates can’t perform as well or even better than their STEM counterparts? 

Perhaps Anne Jolly, author and content writer for middle school STEM curriculum, sums it up the best – when push comes to shove, it’s not STEM vs. STEAM. It’s about making every student a fully-literate 21st-century citizen.

What are your thoughts? Do share with us whether you think the arts belong in STEM. 

Sources: www.edweek.org and www.charlotteobserver.com.