A Demand for the Fine Arts

In a classmate blog titled Texas, O Texas I found an article that caught my attention because it was arguing that the Texas school districts doesn't have a strong requirement for fine art classes.

The article starting emphasizing the Texas Education Code that States that, “A well-balanced and appropriate curriculum will be provided to all students,” and “Each district shall ensure that all children in the district participate actively in a balanced curriculum designed to meet individual needs.” But Fine arts courses, known as Enrichment courses (not Foundation courses, such as math and science), which include dance, music, art, and theatre are also incorporated into the guidelines and are required by law that all school districts must deliver instruction on all subjects.

The author main argument comes from personal passion for the Arts. The author a musician and Photographer argues that there is more to Arts courses than what people realize and The arts do not serve only as a means of performing or entertaining others, but it is also a perfect outlet. All of it, and most commonly music, can be very therapeutic.

I have to agree with my colleague because in my personal opinion there is more to the Arts than just being entertaining. Art classes recreate the mind, distressful the body, and more importantly it generates creativity. I think of music as a language that has its own vocabulary, own way of expression. It is just like math but more fun!

I am grateful to the Arts because thanks to all those boring classes on theater, dance, and music I was required to take in school I developed a passion and an unknown talent for Music. I am now a professional musician and have gotten to visit many places, and play with so many great musicians I admired. Most importantly for me, I get to touch many people's life by playing my instrument.

The author closed the article stating that that Texas and every other state in the nation, as well as every country in our world need to demand and ensure that people, and especially children, receive more formal art instruction in their life. It should also be heavily continued through pre-school, elementary, middle school, and high school.

Texas should pass statewide bill to ban smoking!

No one should be forced to breathe in air tainted with cigarette smoke.
When a cigarette is smoked half floats around in the air causing many health problems including Lung cancer, Nasal sinus cavity cancer, Cervical Cancer and Bladder cancer. Because of its externalities it is very important to have smoking bans in place to prevent further problems.

About 28 cities in Texas have banned smoking in public areas including Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. With the metropolitan cities taking action on this concern I think it is important that the legislature do the same on the new bill sponsor by State Representative Myra Crownover of Denton, and state Senator Rodney Ellis of Houston, which would ban indoor cigarette smoking in any business in the state, including restaurants and bars.

One of the great aspects of this bill is that it would ban cigarette smoking at bars. Many of the cities in Texas that ban cigarette smoking at public places have exempted bars, and it is not right for people that are non-smokers to have to inhale this poison while working or socializing. I am a musician who plays at bars weekly around the state for a living and I don't think it is fair for me to have to suffer the consequence of other people's action while I am doing my job.
According to the website www.smokefreetexas.org Tobacco is the state’s No. 1 cause of premature death and 3.3 million Texas smokers run up $5.8 billion in annual medical bills.

Secondhand smoke is serious business, and should be a concern for anyone who breathes it in. Non-smokers inhaling secondhand smoke share some of the health risks smokers face. While secondhand smoke may not kill as many people as smoking does, it is toxic and claims thousands of lives every year.

There are many supporters of this bill including seven time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong. Even though a similar bill failed last session, a survey commissioned by Smoke-Free Texas, a coalition of public health organizations backing the bill, found that 68 percent of Texans support banning smoking in all indoor and public places.

If it passes, the statewide smoking ban would begin September 1, 2009.