And no, those aren't Mohammadens.
Posted on 06/06/2006 8:26:34 PM PDT by Graybeard58
GREENWICH -- A restored Revolutionary War mural painted in the 1930s may not be returned to an elementary school because officials are concerned it is too violent for children.
The mural shows Gen. Israel Putnam, a war hero from Greenwich who fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill, half-naked and about to be burned at the stake.
He aims a gun at wolves while men around him fight with guns and knives.
"Violence is not something you see at Hamilton Avenue School," said principal Damaris Rau. "And then to have it in the forefront, especially in the lobby, a picture of men hurting each other and killing each other, it really goes against my sense of what children should be exposed to."
The mural, which belongs to the town and once hung in Town Hall, was commissioned by the Works Progress Administration in 1935 and painted by James Daugherty of Weston. It was displayed in the gym at Hamilton Avenue school for nearly 60 years until it was removed in 1998 and restored.
It now hangs in the Greenwich Library, but is scheduled to go back to the school when a renovated building reopens next year.
For some residents whose families have attended the school for generations, the mural doesn't belong anywhere else.
"It was a battle scene, but if anything it was an inspirational battle scene," said Marisa Nigiro, a member of the third of four generations of her family to attend the school. "Unfortunately today, we psychoanalyze everything."
But PTA President Laura DiBella, who also attended the school, said former students do not remember the painting as disturbing because it was dirty and hung too high to be seen clearly.
"I thought it was phenomenal growing up, but it was a different time," she said. "There was no Columbine or anything like that, and the schools have really done a lot of work on anti-violence. We are now promoting tolerance, accepting differences and all of that, and it doesn't belong in an elementary school."
She said the painting frightened her sons, ages 3 and 4, when they saw it at the library. She also said a depiction of Native Americans with tomahawks may not be appropriate.
She and Rau have asked parents to look at the mural and weigh in on whether it is too disturbing to hang in the school.
And no, those aren't Mohammadens.
I love WPA art. Have a mural down the street.
She said the painting frightened her sons, ages 3 and 4, when they saw it at the library. She also said a depiction of Native Americans with tomahawks may not be appropriate.
Tells a lot about modern liberalism.
Abolitionist's rifle engulfs N.J. artist in fray [A PC conundrum]
That is one beautiful mural.
Took the family to a baseball game recently. Around the Texas Rangers stadium are some smallish friezes, depicting in monochrome relief scenes from Texas history. We looked at'em all -- and I proudly pointed out each character from that episode in San Antonio. Travis going down from being shot, Bowie prone bearing his knife, Crockett swinging his rifle, Santa Ana commanding the Mexican army...these are the inspiring characters of every Texans youth, and should always be so.
I've never heard of Putnam, but every NJ schoolchild should!
-I don't suppose it ever crossed their mind to TEACH what the picture might mean?-
Clearly the publik edoocashun indoctrination version of events is actively teaching kids that the R.W. was just a bunch of violent thugs killing and maiming the Mother Country for no reason. Better to take it back to Town Hall where somebody might appreciate it?
Did you read any of the EC comics from the 50s?
I did not.
Me neither as I was born after that storm passed (there were congressional hearings and all). But it does prove that sensibilities have drastically changed when in the 50s kids could take these kinds of comics to school and now when children are expelled for drawing pictures of guns.
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