Dear Editor:

When my family and I moved to LaGrange in 2006, several job opportunities in other parts of the country were on the table for both my husband and me. After careful consideration, we chose this area in part because of the strong local arts scene.

We recognized that West Side Magnet School was the type of public school that had become obsolete in our previous home in Raleigh, N.C., where a failing education system was one of our chief reasons for moving. We saw that in other nonmagnet schools, teachers and administrators as well as families were raising money to keep their arts programming. Our impression was that a basic value for cultural arts was alive in this community, and in its education system – a distinguishing mark of excellence. Even though our children were not chosen in the lottery to attend West Side Magnet, they received very good opportunities to pursue their interests in visual and performing arts in the local elementary, middle and high schools.

As we began to build the area’s West Georgia Children’s Theatre, we noticed our students who come from many parts of Troup and surrounding counties were well versed in the arts. This is because they were exposed to quality music, art, and drama programs in their schools.

More industry and newcomers are arriving in our area. They too are assessing what schools offer in terms of an above-average, well-rounded curriculum. If the arts are taken out of schools, and if we lose our arts magnet school, the educational picture will lose its excellence. More scrutiny will be paid to the cost of athletics programs and how the overall budget balances out for taxpayers. This will certainly affect the way those of us who pay taxes cast our votes.

After 25-plus years in education, I find there is no doubt that the arts are essential to a child’s growth and development in life. The arts have statistically produced the highest achieving academic students because arts studies are an integral part of intellectual development. Like all necessary studies, this must begin in elementary grade levels and progress through secondary school.

The West Georgia Children’s Theatre joins the community in its strong support to keep West Side an arts-dedicated magnet school, and to work toward healthy funding for the arts in all area schools. This decision, if made intelligently, will keep Troup County a leader in the region, rather than joining the scores of small communities throughout the country that have fallen victim to short sided priorities. Keep the arts in Troup County and lead the way for others.

Erica Nashan

Founding artistic director,

West Georgia Children’s Theatre