The arts are important, not only because they provide insights into significant human ideas and values, but also because of their capacity to generate experiences that should be part of a full and rewarding life. This book considers: (1) the ideal of excellence; (2) excellence in art; (3) excellence in art education; (4) elitism; and (5)…

The major issue in the elitist-populist controversy is what art works should be included in the curricula. Elitists defend the choice of exemplary art pieces as instructional materials; populists find this advocacy of exemplars intolerably restrictive. The three major arguments embedded in the populist position are critiqued. (RM)

Author describes two instructive ways of illustrating the principal business of aesthetic education and summarizes the way in which the notion of a form of understanding is dealt with by Dearden. (Author/RK)

In considering the relation of art with society the author comments on the ideas of the American philosopher, John Dewey, the art historian, Lord Kenneth Clark, a popular humanistic educator, Clifton Fadiman, and a major cultural critic, Jacques Barzun. (Author/RK)

The purpose of this essay is to provide guidelines for curriculum development in the occupational cluster designated by the Center for Occupational and Adult Education of the Office of Education as "the fine arts and humanities." (Author)