Risa
First Congressional District of New Mexico
GO

Home

About Heather

District Profile

Constituent Services

News Center

Issues

E-News

Student Corner

Contact Heather

White Line Space
Default Image
Bottom Shadow
Left Space Hot Topics Left Space
Hot Topics Lines Welcome Home Hot Topics Lines

Hot Topics Lines Economic Stimulus Hot Topics Lines

Hot Topics Lines Social Security Debit Cards Hot Topics Lines

 

Left Space
Contact
Left Space


ask.heather@mail.house.gov

In Washington DC
442 Cannon House
Office Building
Washington, DC
20515
202-225-6316 Phone
202-225-4975 Fax
In Albuquerque
20 First Plaza NW
Suite 603
Albuquerque, NM
87102
505-346-6781 Phone
505-346-6723 Fax

White Line Space
Zanios Food
White Line Space
E-news Submit Button
Printer Friendly
White Line Space

Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico


Postcard
space
Art and Music Aren`t `Extras` October 02, 2003
 
Dear Friends, If you have more than one kid, you know that kids learn differently. They come to understand the world and their role in it by different routes. Sometimes those routes are the things most highly valued at school – reading, writing, math, science and history. And those things are very important, to be sure. But there is another part of life that I think we sometimes undervalue. Art and music aren’t "extras". They should be part of every child’s education every week in public school. Albuquerque and Santa Fe combined is the second largest art market in the country – second to New York City. New Mexico is known for its vibrant culture and artistic contributions to our nation. And yet many of our students don’t have music and art in the schools.

I introduced a bill this week to help change that. It would require that all National Endowment for the Arts funding over $98 million be put in the NEA fund for arts in the schools and distributed to the states. The federal government funds the National Endowment for the Arts. It’s not really an endowment. It is a federal grant program for the arts. Most of the money goes to big cities and arts organizations with full time grant writers. But if kids are brought up with the arts, they will become consumers of the arts as adults.

Heather looks on as a 3rd grader at Reginald Chavez Elementary School draws and colors for a Hispanic Heritage Month class assignment.
And I don’t mean as spectators, but as participants. I’d rather see elementary students dancing in the gym than kids in the audience watching adults do a ballet at Popejoy. I’d rather see middle school students building a sculpture of found objects than have the traveling Rodin exhibit stop through the museum. I’d rather hear the school band struggle through the Star Spangled Banner at an assembly than have a traveling string quartet do one hundred performances. Don’t get me wrong. Exposure to the arts at a high level can inspire and entertain children. But first and foremost our children should be involved in the arts. Childhood is a delightfully messy experience, and more children need to have a chance to create. Wish you were here,
space



Privacy Statement
| Toolbox | Hablas Español?