Thanks to the Natives

On the heels of last night's Oscars, I am bringing back a quick clip from 2012.  Listen closely as 30 sixth graders from Warm Springs Middle School Film Art Class cheer "Art Integration: Raising Student Assets!"

Look closely,... perhaps such a class, which utilized the techniques of film technology, math, reading, music and creativity (all closely designed to follow the West Virginia Content Standard and Objectives), just may be the impetus to produce a future red carpet Oscar nominee.

After all, Art Integration is designed to excite the mind while enhancing existing academic objectives.  Art Integration is a proven method from the U.S. Department of Education which is known to improve a students success in math and science as well as personal assets.

Not only did these 30 students participate in the creation and development of a film entitled "Where is the Love?", the the entire class of 160 children took part in it's development.  Their final creation has been viewed 695 times on youtube!  (Check it out here:  http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=where%20is%20the%20love%206th%20grade%20video&sm=1)  Not bad for a small town..

Why do I post this?  Well, because this "native" 48-year-old-grey-haired-PDblogging-hott-mama-of-four was given an assignment by the Morgan Arts Council to research Art Integration and present a proposal to the Board of Education.  Since 2012, hundreds of students have had the opportunity to work one-on-one with an artist from sculptors, dancers, actors, to musicians in the classroom with our school's Art Integration and Adopt-a-School programs.

This "native" grew up in the 1970's when the New World Theater visited our Berkeley Springs High School with then Theater Director, Glenn Wells (God, I miss that man!).

This "native" graduated cum laud in the 1980's with a Bachelors of Arts (yes, arts) in Theater from the University of Massachusetts.

This Morgan County "native" worked professionally in the 1990's in theater arts administration in Amherst, MA, Chicago, IL, and Frederick, MD.

Having returned home, being a part of developing Art Integration in my home county was more than just giving back to the community that instilled the importance of the arts and learning in me.  Watching the arts be attacked is heart breaking.

Also heart breaking is witnessing a 9 year old from a "native" family struggle with reading.  She shyly sits at the back table with a group of others having a difficult time understanding basic concepts.  I've been to her house.  I've met her daddy.  The arts would never, never be affordable for this economically challenged family yet even accepted by her close minded, (yes, I said "closed minded"...) father (at least I didn't say "d.a.r.n.").

When I passed her table, she looked up at me under unwashed, untrimmed bangs with eyes the size of small planets.  "Mrs. Hott"  she said, "did you know cheetahs are ex... ext...  extinct?"  Then she went on to read rare animal facts to me one syllable at a time.

She was participating in a endangered animal clay class with artist, Lynn Lavin.

Art Integration works.  I've seen it.  Research proves it.

With the failure of the levy which provided $5.8 million per year in Morgan County, not only arts programming has been cut.  The Morgan Messenger headlined on February 26th that "School board cuts 27 jobs, reduces days & duties for 173 school workers next year".   With three Hott children of my own still in school here, it makes me want to vomit.

Shame on the "natives" for not voting on the levy and creating this terrible mess.  And shame on those natives that moved away and stopped caring about Morgan County enough to call home and encourage those left here to vote for the levy.  Stop being amused by the conflict.  Stop being tired of hearing about it.  Start encouraging others to see the situation and dismal future of education in Morgan County without adequate funding.  We are not "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo".  Not yet.

The Morgan County I knew and loved is gone.

Thanks to the natives.

"For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it."  Ecclesiastes 7:12

The Day the Levy Died (American Pie - Revised)

 Here is my revised version of American Pie, utilizing a little liberty with the "levee".  Sing along with me.  I know you know the melody!

A long, long time ago

I can still remember how that teacher used to make me smile

And I knew if I had my chance

That I could make those students dance

And maybe they'd be happy for a while

But May 11th makes me shiver

With every Facebook post I quiver

Bad news on the doorstep

I couldn't take more more ed-

itorial in the Morgan Mess

When I read about the other side

But something touched me deep inside

The day the teachers cried

So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my School Board to the Levy

But the Levy was dry

And the ole Sheetz boys were drinkin' coffee and high

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry

Did you vote for the Levy then

In the 50's it was when

Morgan County they began

Do you believe in your success

Can schools save us from the rest

And can you teach me how to do with less

'Cause I saw you spendin in the store

You both bought brand news shoes and more

Man, I want some of those too

I was a lonely tax payin' broncin buck

With bills and kids in a Suburban truck

But, I knew I was out of luck

The day the levy died

I started singin'

Bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my School Board to the Levy

But the Levy was dry

And the ole Sheetz boys were drinkin' coffee and high

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry

Now for five decades, we've been on our own

With no moss growin on the "Banks" of stone

But that's not how it might soon be

With the levy gone jobs at the Dairy Queen

will be all our kids have seen

Said a voice that came from you and me

Oh, and while the King was looking down

And Brooks tried to steal His thorny crown

The courtroom was adjourned

Kate's verdict was returned

And while Lenin read a book on Marx

The band still practiced in the park

Parents sang dirges in the dark

The day the levy died

We were singing...

Bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my School Board to the levy

But the Levy was dry

And the ole Sheetz boys were drinkin' coffee and high

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry

I met a mom who sang the blues

And I asked her for some happy news

But she just smiled and turned away

I too have bills at the sacred store

Where my kids need fed like yours before

But the man there said the levy wouldn't pay

And in the streets the students screamed

The teachers cried, and the parents dreamed

But not a word was spoken

School buildings all were broken

And the three men I admire the most

The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost

They caught the last train for the coast

The day the levy died

And they were singing

Bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my School Board to the Levy

But the Levy was dry

And the ole Sheetz boys were drinkin' coffee and high

Singing this'll be the day that they cry

This'll be the day that they cry