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| Wilson Visits Guitar Class to Highlight Music Education |
October 09, 2003 |
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| Washington, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson went back to high school today just long enough to join a guitar class and highlight her ongoing efforts to bring art and music back into New Mexico classrooms. Today, she visited Manzano High School and observed choir and guitar lessons.
“Every child should have music and art every week in school,” Wilson said. “It’s more important for children to sing, paint, create and play than it is for them to see other people perform.”
Last week, Wilson introduced legislation to increase resources for arts education in New Mexico’s public schools. Wilson’s bill amends the current "Access to the Arts" program under the National Endowment for the Arts so that a higher percentage of funding is used to create arts education programs in elementary and secondary schools.
Teacher David Ostrovitz welcomed Wilson into his class. "I feel arts are a fundamental part of every education,” Ostrovitz said. “Arts deal with the 3 H`s: Hands, Head and Heart. Any art takes skill, knowledge and emotion. Children need these with everything they will do in life. Schools need the resources to involve all kids in the arts, because art is a positive form of expression."
Currently, 50% of any amount over $175 million appropriated to the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) is allocated to schools for arts programs. Wilson`s bill will change that amount to $98 million over which 100% would go to schools.
“New Mexico is known for our art, yet our children do not all have art and music every week at our schools,” Wilson continued. “We need to change that.”
Throughout her time in Congress, Wilson has made work on public education a priority. She has visited hundreds of classrooms throughout her district to visit with students, teachers, administrators, and parents. Wilson also runs a high school internship program in her Albuquerque office where more than 150 students have learned basic job skills in an office setting. And, each year Wilson is honorary co-chair of the Congressional Arts Competition, which gives New Mexico`s talented students the opportunity to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol.
Wilson has supported increased funding for education and leader training and has introduced legislation for tax credits and loan forgiveness for teachers who teach in low income neighborhoods.
“Art is not an extra. It should be part of the program at every public school,” she concluded.
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