BEAUTIFUL MURALS at my old school!

[Die Fledermaus]

I was at a political event at my old Junior High School last night. What was most interesting was that the hallways and doors are covered in lovely murals painted by the kids! These are lovely. What a great idea to avoid bare walls!

These walls look fantastic! Take a look:
>>http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.1949344340965.117827.1463293485&l=4baf0cc6b9<<


This, btw, was the political event:
RIGHT HERE

[Die Fledermaus]

Here is a gallery of the lovely murals, at Webshots, not Facebook:

>>http://community.webshots.com/album/580123858bshjoG?start=0<<

[Hamsters82]

Those are great paintings done by the high school kids. Did you learn anything at the meeting? It sounds interesting enough.

[Die Fledermaus]

Not High School. IS. 11 and 12 years old! I will get a tour from some of them in several weeks.

All I learned from the meeting was that Grimm can keep his cool, and that those Leftists were rude idioits. But I already KNEW that!

This is a video I posted from the event. Things got much worse later. Watch and listen.
>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AixhSZ860cI<<

[Die Fledermaus]

This is a NEW Gallery of photos:

>>http://s762.photobucket.com/albums/xx266/Troyens/McKinley%20school%20MURALS/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ16<<


I wouldn't write this unless it was worthwhile. This may seem effusive but the McKinley murals are literally unique, and perhaps the most extraordinary educational achievement I have ever seen. After an earlier false start, I got an hour tour today with one of the teachers. They are also just good plain fun to look at, and nice art.

There are themes. The kids do the research as to what they will specifically draw, after getting a general idea and the concepts from the teachers. The design is drawn on large sheets of paper and then using various techniques traced on to the walls and doors. Then the color painting begins.

I was struck at how involved and intertwined the themes are and how each section deals with specific images and visuals, all of which draw in the viewer.

They have some of these on the ceilings. They've incorporated various utility features on the walls, such as Prometheus bringing fire--the fire is around the fire alarm box.

They have already prepared the drawings for the next theme to be started in September--9/11. They are in the gallery.

You may ask about how they were able to do this without certain hassles. The principal was all for it, surprisingly.

Minoan themes are slightly altered: the normally bare-breasted women are clothed. No big deal, but all religion is side-stepped. The only symbol that was clearly religious was a big version of God's hand touching Adam's hand, from the Sistine Chapel. They folded in a reference to the creation of Frankenstein, thus side-stepping a Christian Creation that could get the atheists suing.

I asked him specifically about the upcoming 9/11 theme. References will be made to it being mass murder and terrorism, but as there are so many Muslim kids there they have to be somewhat circumspect in how they do it.

He admitted they have to walk a fine line, but "no one has ever complained" about religion or anything else.

They do this work starting at 7 AM which is great commitment from students and teachers. No classes are missed. Tables and paints can be left in the hallways and are never disturbed. Never any vandalism. It is thus the quintessential paradigm of the student involved project that not only teaches them through their research and then art, but inspires them to respect their own achievements and those of others. Personal accomplishment has value! Yes, they are working as a team, but this is not a commune. Each has specific tasks based on their abilities.

if you look at the images, which are a fragment of all that is there, you will be able to identify various great works of art and famous buildings. You'll also see poetry added on to better illustrate the themes, and to personalize peoples' reactions.

This is an awesome achievement other schools should attempt if feasible. Of course, the kids are mostly good, so discipline was not an issue. That is uncommon in the system.

The 9/11 theme will take up most of next year, and i will be back to see it.

Anyway, this is the link:
>>http://s762.photobucket.com/albums/xx266/Troyens/McKinley%20school%20MURALS/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ16<<

These kids (up to 8th grade) have minimal training, and they will only get better.

Uplifting to see education at its best.

I also visited my old homeroom!

[Die Fledermaus]

IF THOSE LINKS ARE BROKEN paste THEM IN.

[pinky]

Wow, this is an amazing effort! I love the doors, especially.

DF, I see many times that there are four lines of words and then a name appearing in these murals. Are students writing short poems that are then written on the murals?

[Die Fledermaus]

Yes, there are student poems in there. Feel free to SAVE the photo, and then ZOOM in.

This is a great achievement in Education, and it may be unique.