(SPS) -- On Wednesday, three SHS Speech, Drama and Debate students visited the State Capitol in Oklahoma City with teacher Rebecca Braswell and the Oklahoma State Thespians.
Allyson Fielden, Ashlyn Bush, Maggie Lawson, and Mrs. Braswell went to the capitol for Arts & Culture Day. They joined Oklahomans for the Arts to advocate for arts in schools, arts programs funding, and raising awareness of the importance of the arts.
Students heard from state Representatives Daniel Pae, Andy Fugate, and Julia Kirt about effective ways to approach legislators and how to create meaningful relationships with them.
Dr. Elizabeth Maughan from the Oklahoma State Department of Education discussed the new Arts Education Dashboard which breaks down the statistics of how arts are being included or are missing in schools across our state.
Students also watched senators debate several bills. They sat down with local Representatives Kyle Hilbert and Mark Lawson. Allyson, Ashlyn, and Maggie talked with them about the importance of the arts and encouraged them not to support a particular arts-related bill that was being heard that day.
Our lawmakers were eager to hear from our students. Rep. Lawson even gave them a tour of the back of the Chamber of the House. Thank you for hosting SPS!