In 1996, a tradition began at McHenry East High School where a student who took four years of art was allowed to paint a mural on the wall, to leave their mark. Now, 20 years later, that tradition and the existing murals are in jeopardy of being painted over by the current principal, Mr. Eric Blake.
As a community, we have a responsibility to preserve the murals. They are more than just paintings, they are expressions of individuality. They are the history of McHenry East High School.
You wouldn't paint over a Van Gogh. Don't let anyone paint over these.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
March 3, 2016
March 3, 2016
One hundred people have spoken out against Principal Blake and his plan to erase our history. He thinks he can just cover up two decades of student work without a fight but he is dead wrong.
Reached 100 supporters
March 3, 2016
February 29, 2016
Eric Blake thinks he can just white out twenty years of student history without a fight. We are inching toward one hundred signatures and we need to hit that mark right now to show the administration that this community is watching. Stop these murals from being erased by sending this link to everyone you know immediately.
247 Comments
Please do not paint over these murals. This is a expression of four years of dedication and passion, a memorial to those who didn't make it, and a celebration of the things that students love. This is worth preserving.
It is so important to nurture young artists and inspire them to succeed. These walls give the students a goal to achieve. We have enough goal-less kids these days. Don't replace their brushes with game controllers.
To even be considered to be able to add to this mural is a rite of passage, a positive mark on the school, a source of pride, and a piece of McHenry history and artistic lore. We should be finding ways to add to the school's culture and character, not erase it.
They did this to my daughter's school and there were only negative results. Depression, feeling of work not being appreciated, feeling as though they were all someone that could just be thrown away without thought.
Graduate of McHenry Highschool 2000. I remember the murals in east hallway fondly. Please reconsider destroying them. These murals are a part of history, a history told by younger generations of students how they viewed the world.
Why not remove all the trophies for sports if you're cleaning house of past honors?
My son has his artwork on the walls. They are all great works of art. Please keep them!
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In 1996, a tradition began at McHenry East High School where a student who took four years of art was allowed to paint a mural on the wall, to leave their mark. Now, 20 years later, that tradition and the existing murals are in jeopardy of being painted over by the current principal, Mr. Eric Blake.
As a community, we have a responsibility to preserve the murals. They are more than just paintings, they are expressions of individuality. They are the history of McHenry East High School.
You wouldn't paint over a Van Gogh. Don't let anyone paint over these.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
March 3, 2016
March 3, 2016
One hundred people have spoken out against Principal Blake and his plan to erase our history. He thinks he can just cover up two decades of student work without a fight but he is dead wrong.
Reached 100 supporters
March 3, 2016
February 29, 2016
Eric Blake thinks he can just white out twenty years of student history without a fight. We are inching toward one hundred signatures and we need to hit that mark right now to show the administration that this community is watching. Stop these murals from being erased by sending this link to everyone you know immediately.
247 Comments
I have a mural on those walls and I worked hard to get the opportunity to put a piece of who I am as a student on those walls aswell as countless others before me. Please do not cover them up they are all now and amazing part of history of our school.
Please do not paint over these murals. This is a expression of four years of dedication and passion, a memorial to those who didn't make it, and a celebration of the things that students love. This is worth preserving.
It is so important to nurture young artists and inspire them to succeed. These walls give the students a goal to achieve. We have enough goal-less kids these days. Don't replace their brushes with game controllers.
To even be considered to be able to add to this mural is a rite of passage, a positive mark on the school, a source of pride, and a piece of McHenry history and artistic lore. We should be finding ways to add to the school's culture and character, not erase it.
They did this to my daughter's school and there were only negative results. Depression, feeling of work not being appreciated, feeling as though they were all someone that could just be thrown away without thought.
Graduate of McHenry Highschool 2000. I remember the murals in east hallway fondly. Please reconsider destroying them. These murals are a part of history, a history told by younger generations of students how they viewed the world.
Why not remove all the trophies for sports if you're cleaning house of past honors?
My son has his artwork on the walls. They are all great works of art. Please keep them!
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I have a mural on those walls and I worked hard to get the opportunity to put a piece of who I am as a student on those walls aswell as countless others before me. Please do not cover them up they are all now and amazing part of history of our school.