First, instrumentalism. Mainly represented by Reid and Roanfield, it is believed that preschool children's art education should conform to children's natural development, know the world and themselves through children's spontaneous and free expression, let children construct the connotation of sound personality, emphasize the educational value of art education, take art as a means of educating children, and position the purpose of art education on children's all-round development. Under this understanding, children's "spontaneity" and "freedom" are placed in a very important position, and they take a completely laissez-faire attitude towards children, but just like Roman? Roland said that "a person's absolute freedom is madness" also applies to young children. Musicians put children in a state of spontaneity, no teacher's instruction and guidance, no creative purpose and laissez-faire, expecting them to get proper development, which is very unrealistic.
Second, the essence theory. Essentialism, represented by eisner and Gerry, emphasizes the discipline as the center and advocates the realization of the self-value of the art discipline. It is believed that the main value of art education lies in its unique contribution to personal experience, and artistic ability is the result of learning. Correct art study should include art creation, art criticism and art history knowledge, and there should be good curriculum design and evaluation. However, art, as one of the main components of human culture, does not develop in isolation. It is inextricably linked with other fields of human activities. Children's art education is not to train experts and scholars in the art field. Essentialists overemphasize the systematicness of art education and ignore the inherent needs of children's spontaneous expression and creation.
Third, the theory of sensory education. The main representatives who hold this view are two scholars with doctoral experience. They talk about their knowledge and experience and think that artistic training can train people's eye acuity and muscle flexibility. They regard children's painting as a means to cultivate children's observation ability and hand-eye coordination ability, which has nothing to do with the cultivation of children's imagination, creativity and aesthetic ability. They discussed the purpose of art education from the perspective of biology, which is of positive significance, but can the splendid art culture developed since the Paleolithic only exercise people's senses? The answer is obviously no, otherwise it can't explain many problems in the development of human art, such as ideals, politics, various emotions and so on.