Morass over mural

Debate rages after parent urges ‘update’ to painting in high school

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A mural depicting student activity that has been in Baldwin High School for over half a century is generating controversy, with at least one parent urging the school board to “update” it by painting over the scenes.

Lorienton Palmer, the father of two girls, said he is concerned about the message the mural is sending to students today about the role of girls in society. In a letter to district Superintendent Shari Camhi, Palmer wrote that he would like to see the mural “modified to show female students engaging in scientific and sports activities that are comparable to those shown in the mural being done by male students.”

“This is about the future for the district,” Palmer added. “The best way to improve the world is to educate our daughters. The best way to improve society in all aspects is to educate our daughters in science and math.”

Palmer enclosed a copy of a study that he said concluded that “teachers’ unconscious biases in favor of boys” discouraged girls and steered them away from studying math and science. “It follows that because the math, science and technology fields have better paying jobs and careers,” he wrote, “our daughters are being unconsciously steered into the lower paying fields.”

The 60-by-12-feet mural, in the school’s entranceway, has four panels depicting students involved in several activities. In one panel, a boy and a girl are shown reading. In two more panels, boys are shown taking part in activities including athletics, woodworking and conducting science experiments. Only two other girls appear, one cooking at a stove and the other cheerleading.

Records show that the painting was produced in 1958 and 1959. The artist was George Kanelous, a commercial illustrator and painter. Among his more notable commercial works were the image of the Kool-Aid pitcher with a face on it and an Ivory Snow ad featuring a mother and daughter.

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