Bill Pascrell: “I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 275. I want to commend both Mr. Polis and Mr. Petri for their very…”

“I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 275. I want to commend both Mr. Polis and Mr. Petri for their very succinct words. I know firsthand the benefits that our children receive from a robust arts education program, whether it is music, theater, visual arts, photography, poetry, or dance. This is not simply an outlet. This is part and parcel of the essential features of what a good education is all about. Unfortunately, the current state of the economy has now put these classes and the further enrichment of our students at risk, and I would ask us to address this issue. What is the first to be cut? Go right across the Nation. Arts, libraries and sports--the things our kids love best. Arts are not just sought to get away from things. Arts are part of their lives. They enrich them. They contribute to one's total being when one has an appreciation of the arts. I taught an arts course, History through the Arts. They were mostly students who could care less about American history; so I had to find a way to get to them. I taught the course by going through all of those fine arts I just talked about.”