Hobbs Municipal Schools

  
The most valuable lesson a student should learn in school is how to participate and work in a group.  This skill will serve them well the rest of their lives.  In a theatrical performance, each line is important and together each individual creates something greater. 

Periodically, parents come up to me and ask how we are able to fund these fine arts events throughout the year.  My answer is the Fine Arts Education Act of New Mexico.  Although we rely on the generosity of many community partners, the lion’s share of the funding for elementary arts events comes from this statute commonly known as the Fine Arts Education Act.  This educational funding was created by a group of parents in New Mexico who began by wanting art supplies for their students.  This group of parents went out and raised $100,000.00 worth of art supplies for the classroom.  Later, they went to the state legislature and turned that investment into $26 million a year.  This is what the students of New Mexico have benefited from for the past few years.  It began as a decision by parents to stop being passive observers, work together and become active in the role of their student’s education.  These courageous parents followed the law of the jungle according to Rudyard Kipling.  

When students participate in a play they are recipients of those parents due diligence yet they are also following in their footsteps.  In a society that revolves mostly around passive observance it is an important choice for a student to match their individual strength with the community’s strength.  Hobbs Municipal Schools can be a model for the 21^st Century for how a school district can provide opportunities for students to act on a large stage and practice becoming apart of something larger than themselves.

If you have any questions about the Elementary Fine Arts Program you can e-mail ledgerwoodt@hobbsschools.net.   Thank you for your interest in the arts.   Tyson Ledgerwood Elementary Fine Arts Coordinator Hobbs Municipal Schools