Arts Matter: Consider Supporting H.Res. 319

There is an important federal resolution currently up for consideration. H.Res. 319: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that adding art and design into Federal programs that target the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields encourages innovation and economic growth in the United States. Sponsor: Rep. Jim Langevin [D, RI-2]. Status: This resolution was assigned to a congressional committee on June 21, 2011, which will consider it before possibly sending it on to the House or Senate as a whole. Learn more about fostering inovation through STEAM, visit stemto steam.org. What follows is my letter in support of H.Res. 319, which I submitted via POPVOX.

Dear Congressperson:

I support H.Res. 319 because art and design can make a critical contribution to our country’s success. Federal programs that support the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) fields are missing a key component of the equation, Art. Consider the skill set that resides in the field, the type of intelligence that a creative person posses. I understand artists and designers actively demonstrate and communicate higher order thinking skills, involving a critical combination of analysis, synthesis, abstraction, evaluation, and meaning-making (Revised Bloom's Taxonomy). Artists and designers are flexibly minded solution seeking problem-solvers, who are collaborative, strategic, and intelligent. We are innovators and our country could more of us actively participating in research, development, business, planning, and education. Embracing and fueling this type of creativity at all levels in the US, from childhood education, academic research, to business development, will help our country engage in innovation, with expectant outcomes that will fuel our economy. Please consider the potential of Art to make a difference. Consider transforming S.T.E.M. into S.T.E.A.M..