Students at Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School are less than a month into the school year and already have performed for a U.S. congressman.
Rep. Travis Childers, D-Miss., stopped by Cook Monday to witness the fusion of academics and fine arts and to make a donation of books fresh from the Library of Congress in Washington.
“I”m very impressed with Cook Fine Arts Elementary School and to see some of the arts (students) are exposed to at a young age,” said Childers. “Quite frankly, I”m a big supporter of early childhood education and I think you”re seeing that right here in Columbus.”
After presenting the selection of books to a group of 9- and 10-year-old student ambassadors, Childers accompanied Principal Lois Kappler and Superintendent Dr. Del Phillips on a quick tour of the schools” arts classes.
Childers and his entourage were treated to a special performance by Tina Morgan”s strings class, where third- and fifth-graders were learning to play the violin. Afterward, they walked in on Courtney Langford”s dance class where students were in the middle of an English lesson, diagramming sentences using song lyrics before dancing ballet-style to the song they were studying.
“It”s important to let people that are not in a school environment every day get in to see it and what it means in regard to academics and how we infuse academics into fine arts,” said Phillips. “Once you see that happening it makes more sense. The more individuals who get into your schools (to witness instruction), the better.”
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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