As shown in this article, The Guardian: Why Drawing Needs to be a Curriculum Essential, it appears that the British are far ahead of the United States in recognizing the value of teaching children how to draw—not to produce artists but to improve thinking and problem-solving.
In the article, the author Anita Taylor, says:
“As a primary visual language, essential for communication and expression, drawing is as important as the development of written and verbal skills. The need to understand the world through visual means would seem more acute than ever; images transcend the barriers of language, and enhance communications in an increasingly globalized world.”
My own lifelong ambition is to see drawing reinstated in our schools, from early education on—to teach our children the twin skills of reading and drawing to improve both reading comprehension and creative problem solving. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject! Just leave a comment or question below.
~ Betty Edwards