Mural may not be welcomed back to school

Stamford Advocate ^ | Keach Hagey

[Pharmboy]

Mary Ellen LeBien, former president of the Greenwich Library Board of Trustees, speaks in front of “The Life and Times of
Israel Putnam of Connecticut” in the library’s reading room. (Bob Luckey Jr./Staff file photo)

School officials are balking at a plan to return a historic Revolutionary War mural to Hamilton Avenue Magnet School after a restoration, saying its battle scenes are too violent for young children.

The mural, "The Life and Times of General Israel Putnam of Connecticut," depicts Greenwich's Revolutionary War hero stripped half-naked, about to be burned at the stake. He sits astride a wild-looking horse and is aiming his musket at snarling wolves, while all around him Native Americans hurl tomahawks and men armed with prominent guns and knives tussle. It was painted by James Daugherty of Weston.

"It's a beautiful work of art, but I think it's a beautiful work of art for adults," Hamilton Avenue School Principal Damaris Rau said. "I don't think it's something that children should be looking at on a daily basis because it is very violent."

Commissioned by the Works Progress Administration under President Roosevelt in 1935, the painting belongs to the town and was first hung in the First Selectman's Office at the old Town Hall. Five years later, it was moved to the gymnasium of the Hamilton Avenue school, where it hung for nearly 60 years, through an arrangement in which the school acted as the custodian of the artwork for the town.

[AnAmericanMother]

Shades of Thomas Hart Benton! His pics can be kind of vertiginous . . . so much motion and wild distortion. I like 'em though, because the movement is interesting and it livens up what could be a very dull historical subject.

As Topsy said, "Somebody ain't tellin' all they knows." I don't think the real objection here is to the "violence" - the lady with the 3-4 year old kids is a wuss - but the lack of PC - savage Indians, white males all over the place on big patriarchal white horses, and not an African American, gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgendered-questioning person, or liberal in sight.

Besides - the frontier and the American Revolution WERE pretty violent, there's no getting around that unless you want to just sanitize history. If that silly lady would tell her kids that brave Americans had to fight wild beasts and wild men and the British to make sure that they could sleep soundly in their beds at night, the boys might learn something.

( . . . mean DOGS? mean DOGS? What else ya gonna hunt a MEAN BEAR with? Of course, at the rate bears are coming back to New Jersey and killing small children, they may see some in Greenwich soon, and this silly woman will have something to REALLY worry about . . )

[AnAmericanMother]

See we agree on the origins of this piece . . .

Having something like this in the school would at least keep things livened up . . .

Your average historical mural is awfully static --

- N.C. Wyeth, "Apotheosis of Franklin". I like Wyeth, but this one is DULL.

[shibumi]

It's already being done. The batting is "outcome based education" and the Valium is being subbed under the name "Ritalin".

[TradicalRC]

I detect a strong Thomas Hart Benton influence in the artist's style.

[Clemenza]

First saw this mural in a Forbes American Heritage article about a decade ago. Sorry to see that the Greenwich Public School system is run (much like 99% of suburban school districts everywhere these days) by a bunch of Katie Couric-types.

[LurkedLongEnough]

More from another local paper (hilariously PC):

"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.

BWHAHAHA! ::SPIT:: BWHAHAHA! ::SPIT:: BWHAHAHA! ::SPIT::

[Pharmboy]

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.

Casinos then?

[Pharmboy]

Indeed.

[DM1]

"Too violent for young children? Guess these school officials haven't noticed what's on television nowadays"
no to mention video games
these people are in a bubble and have no clue

[napscoordinator]

I looked at the mural for a bit and just don't see what is so violent about it. I mean it might be a bit "dark" but even that is a stretch. Leave the gaudy looking painting alone and TEACH.

[Pharmboy]

I had the same reaction...no blood, no scalping, no bullet holes in heads, etc. Their focus is on SENSITIVITY TRAINING and not teaching.

[LibSnubber]

these people are in a bubble and have no clue

You have a point, however I tend to see it a little differently. I believe they do have a clue; that they know exactly what they are trying to accomplish. IMHO, it has everything to do with their agenda.

[nutmeg]

Connecticut ping!

Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

The principal thinks this artwork is too violent for kids. He must have no idea that kids are watching violent movies. I wonder if he encourages trips to art museums with their violent works of art?