In attempting to answer the question posed in the title, this author offers an overview of the goals of arts programs and some general guidelines for administrators to follow in evaluating those programs. (Author/JM)

Describes a University of Alberta course for prospective elementary art teachers, which used as its theme the International Year of the Child. (SJL)

Sponsored by Rural Action, an Ohio multicounty community development corporation, artist Geoff Schenkel involves Appalachian Ohio communities and schools in the creation of community murals. The projects counter Appalachian stereotypes and boost self-esteem and community revitalization. Includes photographs. (SAS)

Describes an art project using the technique called "Batik" that incorporated watercolor painting with mixed media to appeal to students in a combined art class. Discusses how the students created their artworks and includes a list of materials and objectives. (CMK)

Describes an art lesson in which students sketch drawings of flowers and use watercolor paper and other materials to paint a landscape. Explains that the students also learn about impressionism in this lesson. Discusses how the students prepare the paper and create their artwork. (CMK)

Presents an interdisciplinary lesson that combines art and language arts. Explains that third and fourth grade students explored the meanings of different idioms and created a picture showing the literal meaning of an idiom. Includes a list of art materials. (CMK)

Presents background information about the life and work of the artist Ivan Albright. Includes learning activities and a reproduction of his painting "Into the World There Came a Soul Called Ida." Provides information on the content of the painting. (CMK)

Describes a lesson that teaches kindergarten students how to enlarge a smaller drawing onto a bigger piece of paper. Explains that the students create their heart-shape designs using tempera paint and pastels in the larger picture. Includes a list of materials. (CMK)

Provides historical information on the art technique called marbling. Includes floating paints on water and transferring the patterns formed in the water to paper. Discusses how teachers can teach this technique with materials that fit their budgets. Describes the process in detail. (CMK)

Presents information on the concept of synesthetes. Focuses on the artwork of Grace Hartigan and her work of art, "On a Tar Roof," an illustration of the poem, "Flashes," by James Schuyler. Includes activities in language arts, visual arts, social studies and history, and science. (CMK)

Discusses the use of waterways as subjects in works of art. States that teachers can take their students to a river or canal to help them depict waterways. Explains that the four artworks reproduced in the article offer examples for students. Includes artwork by Franklin McMahon, Canaletto, Nancy Lagana, and Vincent van Gogh. (CMK)

Focuses on multicultural education/art and visual culture education addressing the issues of history, heritage, tradition, culture, personal cultural identity, multiculturalism, multicultural education, and social reconstruction approaches. Provides six position statements for multicultural art and visual culture education and a curriculum…

Presents an instructional resource that explores works of art by African Americans from the U.S. Civil War to the civil rights era (1859-1945). Includes reproductions and background information for each art work and artist along with questions and related art projects. (CMK)

Discusses the differences and goals of four areas: (1) art appreciation; (2) art history; (3) art aesthetics; and (4) art criticism. Offers a definition of art appreciation and information on how the view of art appreciation in education has changed over time. (CMK)

Describes an art project that was used with first grade students in which they learn about Vincent van Gogh's style of painting. Explains that the children learn to create circles and straight lines and how to fill in with color. (CMK)