Art History in schools, important or not?

I just read an article that sings to me, but others here may disagree on the matter of teaching children/teens about art, given all the difficulties of keeping education going these days.

Give it a read if you are even mildly interested, eh? The article is from a British newspaper, The Guardian; it's apparently being cut from their schools and people are reacting..

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/oct/17/cornelia-parker-stuart-maconie-and-more-on-the-axing-of-a-level-art-history


My first art class was in kindergarten in the half semester I was enrolled. Finger painting was fun! And that was about it for the next fifteen or so years.

My parents did buy me a coloring book when we lived a short time in northern Virgina, from a drugstore in Fairfax. Very odd that I remember that so specifically as I was five. I also had crayons at some point, and that might have been when.
I do have a faint memory of being taught to cut out some stuff on colored paper, perhaps in third grade.

My small high school did have an art teacher, but I was all busily into biology, chemistry, latin to kill you (4 years), and so on. (Sorry I didn't break that up with French..).

Two things brought me to art - I liked posters that were sold in Campbell's Bookstore in west LA. And my first lover, thank you, Michael, who introduced me to a lot of art I'd never heard of. I've since been co-owner of two galleries, 25 years apart, experiences that I savor, what'ere any difficulties.

So, what? I tripped into enjoying art without special classes, but nevertheless, I agree with the people in the article.

And you?