I was reading this article that my dad saved for me from the paper, and it was about a kind of graffiti. A teacher encouraged his students to write their name and a favorite quote on the classroom wall every year. Some students came back and saw their names on the wall and were inspired, others were inspired by what their predecessors had written. In any event, the teacher died of cancer, and the school is planning to rennovate the building, including the walls of that classroom. I can't get a good picture, so please go to the link and look at the slide show and the descriptions. Very interesting stuff.
The article goes on to say that in the past, such as at a certain ROTC center, they cut the signatures on the wall and part of the wall away and brought it with them to the new location so that the people on the wall would still be honored. The school decided not to save the wall, but to make a record of the cinder block wall by photographing each block.
Does this seem like an appropriate solution? Isn't there something more secure about having your name printed on concrete as opposed to paper or special cardstock? Paper is easily destroyed. What will new members of classes do? Will they get an opportunity to immortalize their names for a few years? Will the tradition stop? Is this decision appropriate?
This seems to be a tough situation. I first love this idea that this teacher has come up with because I know as a student I love reading the graffiti type writings on desks and walls in my school (especially if its inspirational). Yes it is sad that they are not able to save the wall to help the future kids be inspired. However with new walls up I can only think that there are now more opportunities for new students to leave their mark. I think this is a great idea and good be taken to the next level. I do not know if this tradition will stop. But I hope they do continue with this tradition. I really enjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteI think that for the circumstances this is a good decision. I know that you said that in the past that they have cut the signatures and brought them to the new construction but wouldn't that take a lot of time and effort? We can't assume either way whether this school has the funds to do that. I think that it's great that they were able to take pictures (and hopefully protect them) because I can imagine that a lot of places wouldn't take the time to do that.
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