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OWINGSVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A mural of pop singer Michael Jackson painted by students at an eastern Kentucky middle school has been halted after complaints from a local pastor.
The mural was the latest of about a dozen that have been painted in the hallways at Bath County Middle School. Visual arts teacher Lorraine Leadingham says a visit by an artist to her class prompted the start of a mural of the pop music icon, who died June 25.
WTVQ-TV in Lexington reports that Owingsville First Church of God Pastor Lowell Rice heard about the mural at his church. Rice approached the school officials to complain about the mural, questioning whether Jackson is an “appropriate role model.”
Leadingham says midway through the painting, her principal told her to stop. She says she doesn’t understand why the painting was nixed.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/20...ichael-jackson-mural/?partner=yahoo_headlines
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Even in death, even in Bath County, Michael Jackson is still a controversial figure. Or rather, a controversial painting.
Bath County Middle School teacher Lorraine Leadingham teaches visual arts. Over the last four years, her students have painted a dozen murals on hallway walls. She told ABC 36 News an artist's visit in August led to a classroom discussion about a painting of Michael Jackson, which the students wanted to add to the hallways.
The work began about five weeks ago. Shortly after that, local Pastor Lowell Rice approached Bath School Board Chairman B.A. Franklin and voiced his displeasure about the painting. He also wrote the school principal as well as superintendent Nancy Hutchinson.
Rice said while he heard about the painting from students who went to the Owinsgville First Church of God.
"If they want their children to become like Michael Jackson, if he's an appropriate role model, if we want his behaviors to be ones our young people mirror, then put his picture up there," Rice said.
Leadingham said midway through the painting, her principal told her to stop. Thursday, she told school officials ABC 36 News was coming to Bath Middle for a "Cool in Schools" feature on the murals. The next day, Michael Jackson, whose first mega-selling album was entitled "Off The Wall," was off the wall at Bath Middle.
Leadingham said she doesn't agree with or understand the decision.
"At our last school dance, the majority of the music requested by the kids was Michael Jackson's music, we have a cheerleading squad that's doing their routines to Michael Jackson's music, and our high school band plays his music at the ball game," she said.
Neither Superintendent Hutchinson nor Bath Middle's principal returned calls from ABC 36 News.
http://www.wtvq.com/abc-36-mobile/441-debate-over-michael-jackson-mural
The mural was the latest of about a dozen that have been painted in the hallways at Bath County Middle School. Visual arts teacher Lorraine Leadingham says a visit by an artist to her class prompted the start of a mural of the pop music icon, who died June 25.
WTVQ-TV in Lexington reports that Owingsville First Church of God Pastor Lowell Rice heard about the mural at his church. Rice approached the school officials to complain about the mural, questioning whether Jackson is an “appropriate role model.”
Leadingham says midway through the painting, her principal told her to stop. She says she doesn’t understand why the painting was nixed.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/20...ichael-jackson-mural/?partner=yahoo_headlines
-------------------------------
Even in death, even in Bath County, Michael Jackson is still a controversial figure. Or rather, a controversial painting.
Bath County Middle School teacher Lorraine Leadingham teaches visual arts. Over the last four years, her students have painted a dozen murals on hallway walls. She told ABC 36 News an artist's visit in August led to a classroom discussion about a painting of Michael Jackson, which the students wanted to add to the hallways.
The work began about five weeks ago. Shortly after that, local Pastor Lowell Rice approached Bath School Board Chairman B.A. Franklin and voiced his displeasure about the painting. He also wrote the school principal as well as superintendent Nancy Hutchinson.
Rice said while he heard about the painting from students who went to the Owinsgville First Church of God.
"If they want their children to become like Michael Jackson, if he's an appropriate role model, if we want his behaviors to be ones our young people mirror, then put his picture up there," Rice said.
Leadingham said midway through the painting, her principal told her to stop. Thursday, she told school officials ABC 36 News was coming to Bath Middle for a "Cool in Schools" feature on the murals. The next day, Michael Jackson, whose first mega-selling album was entitled "Off The Wall," was off the wall at Bath Middle.
Leadingham said she doesn't agree with or understand the decision.
"At our last school dance, the majority of the music requested by the kids was Michael Jackson's music, we have a cheerleading squad that's doing their routines to Michael Jackson's music, and our high school band plays his music at the ball game," she said.
Neither Superintendent Hutchinson nor Bath Middle's principal returned calls from ABC 36 News.
http://www.wtvq.com/abc-36-mobile/441-debate-over-michael-jackson-mural
