by Michele Catahay

Students at Southern High School are looking at art as a positive outlet. Art teacher Joey Mesa says more and more students are taking an interest in his class. His class consists of basic art instructions, learning the history of art and allowing for students to express themselves through drawing and painting.

He says taking an interest in art is a way for kids to stay out of trouble, noting, "It's an excellent outlet for most of them. It's challenging for one and also it's less academic as far as the way I run my class. So it's kind of a break from the norm where they just listen to lectures, take notes and tests. I give notes maybe once or twice a quarter and then two tests per quarter."

He says his students have participated in several contests, to include one that took place during red ribbon week where one of his students took home 2nd place.