[RP TownTalk] Subject: Re: Mural Idealist

[Lou King]

Christopher Martin wrote, On 4/25/2009 6:51 AM:
> Who knew there was such concern for the concrete under the 410 bridge? 
>  Again, at the start, we just wanted to throw some paint / color -- on 
> a neglected space.  It was a mural for the community, designed by my 
> students, to be painted in collaboration with the community. Students, 
> btw, for whom collaboration with the community is not a natural or 
> common experience.   It was not originally about the community.  It 
> was really originally about the community taking an opportunity to 
> assist students.  The town council in their wisdom and kindness 
> approved that idea. 
>
> Chris Martin
> chrism at pgcps.org <mailto:chrism at pgcps.org>
Yes Chris, I too find the change in focus of the mural interesting. I do 
hope this public discourse does not eliminate or negate the original 
learning objectives the project intended for your students.  During any 
interaction with others, lessons are learned or reinforced. Hopefully 
the negative evaluation, 'my way or the highway' tone of TownTalk isn't 
the social interaction mode taken away by your students.

When you presented you idea to the Council, I though your idea of using 
the students interest in art as a vehicle to engage them in a socially 
positive group interaction was noble. As presented initially and then 
reinforced by the student's presentation to the Council (obviously a new 
experience for some), I come to the conclusion that all in all it didn't 
matter, and I didn't care, what the area under the bridge looked like if 
the learning objectives (dare I say socialization) of the participants 
were archived. It would be a shame if an opportunity for an initial 
positive experience is missed.

Lou King