The lack of art and culture in Linton is appalling. I know that there is a small argument about this going on due to the "farmer's market" (http://gcdailyworld.com/story/1316659.html).

Honestly, I think it is just fallout from our dying little town.

When over 25% of our town's population (25 years and older) have not even graduated high school, or an equivalent, we cannot wonder where our "culture" is. Bloomfield, with it's population showing less than half of Linton's, has barely over 15% of their population being uneducated. Since correlation does not imply causation, I cannot say that we can gain a 10% increase in high school graduations if we: A) have an active theatre community which as far as I know is Bloomfield's largest "home-grown" source of culture, or B) move the whole of Linton 15 miles east towards Bloomington which (once again) as far as I know is their largest outside source of culture.

I think our only real chance is to educate, undermine our archaic heritage, and think freely.

Good luck :(

Tim...

Thank you for finally writing something a little more meaningful in honor of Miss French. I too, like you, did not take classes in Art, but she still made an impact upon my life and taught me much.

I had spoke to her several times and learned about the lack of support for her art classes, not from students, but from local decision makers. Over the past 10 years, her hours had been cut to only part time and then reinstated and then cut again. Then next I heard, that they were cutting her Art Classes altogether. I do not know the specifics, but it seems that she may have given up and bowed out gracefully from this battle.

She was a special person in our community...and like many things in life...you often don't realize what you have until its gone.

Below, I would like to share with you my personal condolence/tribute to Miss French....posted to her family...

[Today is sad day for many former Linton students. Miss French was a great mentor to me and a friend. I was very fortunate to have spent time with her during my years at LSHS. While I never found time to take one of her art classes, our paths always seemed to cross. And for those opportunities, I am thankful. I will always remember my time spent on Art Club activities and fundraisers, painting windows downtown, our field trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, and the many hours spent between scenes at play practice painting a backdrop for the musical, making a Paper-Mache carousel horse, or carving a tree out of layers of Styrofoam. I truly cherish these moments and laughs that we often had. Often under-appreciated and misunderstood by her community and employer, and even sometimes by her students, she was truly a great force and contributor to the Linton Community. She impacted many students during her years as a teacher and we are thankful to have known her. My heart is full of sorrow today and I know that I am not alone. May we meet again one day in the shadow of the "great artist" our creator.]

Unfortunately, I saw her only once over the past 2 years and at that time only got the opportunity to visit with her briefly. And, for that, I am ashamed...but our lives get busy and living 2 hours away does not always provide many of these opportunities.

Nevertheless, I do agree that some consideration or re-consideration should be made about "hands-on" art classes. While I support Art History and Music History courses as options, there is something missed without the "active" Arts. Without a practicing artist/art teacher, what opportunities for creativity will not be explored?

I would offer this question...what is the ratio that is spent on the Arts vs. Athletics vs. Academics? Of these, which is the most important? With who's criteria are we making these judgements? And, who is making these judgements? Are they qualified to make these judgements? Are the "No Child Left Behind" requirements acting as a scapegoat to justify these judgements?

It is my belief that my opportunities to explore my creative talents and the performing arts, as one of the most important contributors to my career.

I believe that it would be appropriate to honor Miss French's dedication to Art at LSHS with some mechanism that would develop a permanent "hands-on" art program within the Linton-Stockton School Corporation. I believe that there are opportunities for the school corporation to pursue additional funding opportunities to assist in this endeavor. But they must be actively pursued in tandem with other important or required financial pursuits. Additionally, I see other opportunities for the Arts Community in Stockton Township to rise up and engage the others in our community. Would it be possible to honor Miss French with such a program? Maybe it is "a little too late", but not really, because the youth of our community deserve these opportunities.

To close, I would add the following statements. Change is difficult. Perseverance is hard work. But, anything is possible!

Yes, it would be nice to honor Miss French Dedication to Art at LSHS, but it's a little late. After all the years this Lady gave to LSHS, they rather turned their backs on her in later years. Shame on you Miss French was one of the greatest teachers this school has ever had.

I too am guilty of not stopping and tell her how much she made a difference in my life. I lost a lot of family in the pass year and I should have learned from that, took time, and thank the people that have given so much to the community.

I shall miss Ms. French, I'm ashamed for not thanking her, and I'm ashamed of my hometown how they turned their back on one of the finest.

There have been some very good comments here, as well as a nice article from Timberly. I was one of Ms. French's students from a few years back. She treated every student the same, and was probably the most unbiased teacher at LSHS. Its a shame to see Art and Vocational programs cut, but the Athletics going strong. It seems there is no place for a student any more unless he or she has a 4.0 gpa or the star on the basketball team. Not all kids are cut out to go to college, yet the world still has a place for them. They need to learn a trade or skill, and the public schools are failing them, because they are to focused on winning a sectional or a few kids scoring high on an SAT. I agree that we cant sit back and let this happen. The only way its going to change is if we make it change.

I am certainly sad to see anyone pass on, especially one that seems to have brought so much to our youth.

We are so fortunate at Bloomfield to have a wonderful art program and an equally wonderful art teacher.

As important as art history is to our youth, hands-on art is so important, if not more so. With the growth of technological art it would be easy to see the demise of tangible art (i.e. paintings, drawings, sculpting). As an artist, I think that it would be a sad, drab world without art and the young hands that create it.

"Every great work of art has two faces, one toward its own time, and one toward the future, toward eternity." Daniel Barenboin

"Art is the only thing you cannot punch a button for. You must do it the old-fashioned way. Stay up, really burn the midnight oil. There are no compromises." Leonytne Price

LHS leads the way towards the deartsification of our culture.

I am ashamed of my alma mater beyond words!

I thought I left a respectful comment here but it's gone now?