A controversial, school-authorized student art display at the Mat-Su Central was taken down last week, after concerns were raised that it explicitly blames “older white men” and traditional values for the spread of hate in America, while depicting the Statue of Liberty as a “fraud.”
The display, which was approved by school administrators for public viewing, included seven works of multi-media art created by students in the school’s advanced placement studio art program.
Mat-Su Central, which is now the largest school in the district, is a popular correspondence program favored by many conservative-leaning homeschool families. In addition to supporting parents in the home education of their children, the school offers classes, such as art, music and other subjects, which students can choose take on campus during the school day.
Earlier this month, parents with children enrolled in Mat-Su Central contacted the Alaska Watchman with concerns about offensive images and messages portrayed in the student art showcase.
According to Principal Jason Moore, the project asked students to “interpret a shared image, the Statue of Liberty, and explore how they could render and express that image through their own artistic style and perspective.”
While students were not told what perspectives to render, none of the seven art pieces included any positive qualities about America. Instead, they uniformly critiqued the whole notion of liberty in America, claiming the nation is mired in ongoing racism, hatred and hypocrisy.
One piece portrayed the Statue of Liberty as an old white man and included a paragraph to explain the student’s intentions behind the art.
“Traditionalist ideals have become invasive, spreading hate and distrust between multiple parties, which are primarily led by older white men,” the student artist wrote. “I wanted to portray the stubbornness of change, and how administration being run by older people causes societal change to backtrack, because the youth always have such different opinions that more accurately apply to the present way of life.”
Another piece depicts a tear-stained Statue of Liberty, along with an interpretive note explaining that the artist sought to highlight liberty crying out amid the lies of America.
“How could people so full of hatred be free? NO ONE could promise liberty,” the student explained. “So, she remains a fraud not by her own will, but by the HUMAN’S who all chose sin over God. We have only ourselves to BLAME.”
A separate piece questions whether America is really the “land of the free,” while raising concern that the country is run by pedophiles and fascists, and suggesting that President Trump has made himself “the KING.”
“Land of the Free? But are we really free?” one student wrote next to an artwork. “Are my non Caucasian friends safe out in the street?”
Other works show an ominous Statue of Liberty sitting upon a massive throne, looking out through a fiery eye and wearing a crown covered in what appears to be thorns or barbed wire.
One claims America is a “broken” and “privileged” nation where “words of hate are most commonly spoken,” while another shows bloody hand marks plastered over the American flag.
According to a Dec. 18 email from Moore, the intent of the art project was to “challenge students creatively while engaging them in thoughtful interpretation, presentation, and discussion, which are core components of the AP Studio Art curriculum.”
Moore explained that students worked on their art projects both in and outside of class time and then presented and discussed the creations as “part of the learning process.” The instructor then selected pieces to showcase “student effort, creativity, and growth,” he said.
“Mat-Su Central is a K-12 school, and student artwork displayed in common areas follows established classroom guidelines,” Moore added. “Artwork is reviewed prior to display and does not include nudity, violence, profanity, or hate-based imagery. Within those parameters, students are encouraged to think critically, express ideas respectfully, and engage with multiple perspectives as part of their education.”
One of the artworks, however, indiscriminately blames traditional ideas and “older white men” for spreading hatred.
When asked about the art display, School Board Member Tom Bergey said he was aware of the controversy and had informed District Superintendent Randy Trani.
It does not appear, however, that the school district has any policies or regulations that specifically govern student expression when it comes to art. Board policies do stipulate that each principal has the “responsibility of maintaining order and decorum in his or her school,” while noting that students have limitations when it comes to freedom of expression during school hours.
For example, the district’s student handbook acknowledges that students are entitled to “express verbally their personal opinions in a manner that does not interfere with the educational process, that does not interfere with the freedom of others to express themselves, and that does not interfere with the ability of others to enjoy their rights, including rights of privacy and of preservation of reputation.”
The handbook adds that students are prohibited from engaging in “symbolic expression” that is deemed to be “obscene, vulgar, defamatory, promotes or advertises alcohol or drugs, or substantially interferes with the educational process or with the rights of others.” Likewise, students may not engage in expressions that are “libelous or which advocates racial, religious or other prejudice.”
51 Comments
I wonder if any of the parents of these young very misguided, deluded, student artists are aware of their children’s confusion expressed in such a shocking and vulgar way? Why would all of the art presented in the installation be so negative? Not a single artist was able to ‘break away’ from the herd and express something more in line with reality? It seems some serious peer pressure is involved here, not to mention the flagrant lies fed to impressionable minds through social media as they are all parroting the same leftist cliches. I would call it a barometer of a number of things. Inattention by parents, lack of history and civics being taught, too much free license access to social media, and also maybe even confused low info victim mentality parents, although I hope the last possibility is not the case. It seems some improved education is in order and maybe a field trip to some Marxist and third world countries.
If you think the assignment produced a one‑note viewpoint, the remedy is more viewpoints, not fewer. Add speech. Don’t subtract it.
“……..Traditionalist ideals have become invasive, spreading hate and distrust between multiple parties, which are primarily led by older white men,……….”
Looks to me that new ideals have become invasive, spreading hate and distrust between multiple parties, which are primarily led by young high school and college students.
and djt
Got a dose of TDS?
Another example of Christian, White Nationalism stifling free expression, critical thinking and discussion .
Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement that rose to prominence in early-20th-century Europe. Fascism is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy, subordination of individual interests for the perceived interest of the nation or race, and strong regimentation of society and the economy. This is a perfect description of the Trump Administration.
From all you’ve written here, it seems obvious that Fascism is a tool of the Left.
Not stifling free expression but if you hate this country so bad pack your bags and leave. I have not defended this country for over 30 years for you to talk down to the majority of the citizens. Go find a country that you think you belong with and leave the United States. I will not defend some ungrateful little pu*k
Y’all aren’t the majority of citizens.
To Jon:
Actually, white (non Hispanic) are the majority; 56%-59%. Add white hispanic, and it goes up to 72%. And over 60 million men in America are over the age of 50 (34% of all men in America).
Cuba is nice this time of year. Here, let me help you pack.
I don’t think these folks realize that by getting so upset about the art, they are making the point the students are raising. How vindicating for a young artistic mind.
upset? its mind boggling how nasty these so called students are. their parents should be hiding somewhere rather than admit to being related to these brainwashed nothings.
public schools manufacture gay race communists without accountability
I don’t think its art the people are upset about it’s what this art represents, hate of their country. Our education system is planting the seed of hate and contempt in the minds of the next generation. Student aren’t taught history, civic, or encouraged to pledge allegiance to this country any longer. Student are taught that you can deny their genetic makeup, gender separation rules no longer apply, and their country is based on fascism (i.e. Paul Hart’s statement).
Morons like you are the reason kids are churning out garbage like this.
who is stifled? their ignorance is on full display for all to wonder be bemused at how they turn out so angry at the freest country in the world.
But, but, Minnesota bad. Wake up Alaska. Take the plank from your own eye.
These kids are confused, and propagandized to deliver their disappointment in a racist way — towards white men. But the elements that depict “America’s Lies” or LOSS of our liberties, are disturbingly accurate. Take this quote, delivered by Jimmy Stewart in the film classic “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”: “You sure had the right idea about me. You told me to go home, and keep filling those kids full of hooey. A lot of junk about American ideals. There’s certainly a lot of junk, all right. This is a whole new world to me. What are you going to believe in? When a man like Sen. Joseph Paine gets up and swears that I’ve been robbing kids of nickels and dimes. A man I’ve admired and worshiped all my life. A lot of fancy words around this town, some of them carved in stone. I guess the Taylors and Paines put them up there so suckers like me could read them. Then when you find out what men actually DO. Well, I’m getting out of this town so fast, away from all the words and the monuments and the whole rotten show.” But Smith’s secretary Saunders redeems his despair, tells him to FIGHT. It is not the ideals that are wrong, it is their CORRUPTION. The movie was heavily criticized at the time for depicting Washington in a bad light, despite the glorious surprise ending. Frank Capra knew, even in 1939, that America was going sour, but true LOVE does not despair, but rather … FIGHTS. If you love your country, don’t throw it away, kids. Arm yourselves spiritually, then take what the world has handed you. Marxism/socialism is a proven and murderous failure. That is the true cause of your angst, yet like evil always does, it steers you against the true ideals that have been sent, not by our flawed political ancestry, but by God.
This kind of thinking by our youth regarding the most unique and freedom granting nation in the history of the world is the result of leftist public school teachers who were indoctrinated by leftist college professors. Civics and the real story of the making of America are not taught any more. Our schools have been taken over by rebels with a cause.
Which part of ‘freedom’ requires removing speech you dislike?
This “art project” is a slap in the face to every serviceman and woman who is serving, has served, or has been laid to rest in protecting and defending the American Idea that they live under. Perhaps the “teacher” and “students” (and I use the term very loosely) need a long-term field trip to a communist nation to get a better idea of “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone”. Their decisions do have very real and brutal consequences.
It’s political grooming like this in our (I say “our” because “our” tax dollars pay for it) education system that remind me to not support the school district and vote NO on any school bonds that come up on the ballot. Though the “students” are getting a warm fuzzy’s over this, they need to be reminded that Alaska is 48th in reading, writing and mathematics.
exactly, not to mention last in any creative thinking and common sense.
If service only protected agreeable speech, it didn’t protect freedom. Freedom includes the obnoxious, the wrong, and the juvenile—especially when it criticizes power.
Well “tim”. The issue is when communists squash free speech then get butt-hurt when their mega-phone is taken away. If this had been a pro-freedom art display, the NEA, some school board members and people like you would be raging that the “other side” was not “included”. The other issue “tim”, you have no skin in the game. Yet here you, are enjoying the freedoms given to you. “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times,”. You sound weak, “tim”.
As a graduation requirement, every senior in high school should be required to take a school sponsored trip to several Third World countries. Anyone who has done this will understand how VERY FORTUNATE they are to live in America, as imperfect as it is!
Agreed. They don’t know what they really have until they have experienced 3rd world nations, first-hand. Perhaps “tim from wasilla” could be a chaperone and go along for the education.
Herman—
“Communist” is not an argument; it’s a label you slap on people when you don’t want to engage the principle.
I don’t care for plenty of political student art, and I’ll say it plainly: sweeping shots at “older white men” are lazy and divisive. But the moment you start cheering the removal of speech because you dislike the viewpoint, you’re doing the squashing you claim to oppose. Taking away the “megaphone” is the point at issue.
You also assume a bunch of things about what the NEA, the school board, or “people like me” would do if the display were pro‑freedom. I can’t speak for your imagined enemies. I can speak for me: if a pro‑Constitution, pro‑military, pro‑gun‑rights, or pro‑Trump student display got yanked because someone complained, I’d say the same thing—answer it with more speech, not fewer viewpoints.
As for “no skin in the game”: public schools are public. They’re funded by the community, and they educate our kids. That’s skin in the game for every citizen who wants students to learn how to argue in a free society.
Calling someone “weak” is easy. The harder—stronger—thing is tolerating speech you hate without reaching for censorship.
Just return to teaching History and Civic, then let the young minds make their decision, return voting criteria back to age 21, and if called for military draft to age 21. Our country has put to much power into the hands of the adolescent, and too many adults still think like adolescents.
how exactly does one ‘ spread hate’? is it like ‘ spreading intelligence’?
yea that what i thought.
no wonder these mini nothings are aimless , pathetic nothingburgers.
I know this is a crazy concept, but the first amendment is there for a reason. No service member should be offended as we helped protect views of Americans whether we may or may not agree. To put your judgment over the opinion of the kids mean some of you do not support or understand what our freedoms are about. Maybe Civics is needed for some of you.
“…….. To put your judgment over the opinion of the kids mean some of you do not support or understand what our freedoms are about………”
The kid is free to say stupid things, and we’re free to point out that they’re stupid things. It works both ways.
Joe are you saying a adolescent’s opinion should carry the same weight as an adults? Can you imagine a household ran by children, and not adults? I was raised by my parents not the other way around.
Everyone is entitled to dislike this student art. That’s called having an opinion. But the solution some of you are cheering—tear it down, “pack your bags and leave,” “Cuba is nice this time of year”—is not patriotism. It’s thin‑skinned censorship dressed up in a flag.
The First Amendment is not a “speech I enjoy” amendment. It exists precisely so that citizens—even young, mistaken, melodramatic citizens—may criticize the country they live in without being bullied into silence by the majority of the moment. If your commitment to liberty lasts only until a teenager offends you, then you don’t love liberty; you love comfort.
If you think the students’ message is ignorant, excellent: refute it. Teach them history. Make an argument. Better yet—put up a competing display. Hang a Statue of Liberty that celebrates America right next to the critique. That is what a confident country does. A frightened one reaches for the wall hooks and the trash can.
And spare us the appeals to veterans as a justification for shutting mouths. Many veterans will tell you—more bluntly than I will—that they served so Americans could say unpopular things. The Republic is not dishonored by a teenager’s bad take. It is dishonored when adults demand official orthodoxy.
Whether the school has policy discretion to curate hallway displays is one question. But applauding a takedown because the viewpoint stings is a strange posture for anyone claiming to defend “freedom.”
I LIKE TIM’S VIEWPOINT HERE. ANYONE WITH EYES CAN SEE THAT OUR COUNTRY’S WALLS ARE CRUMBLING DOWN AROUND US BECAUSE THOSE (THAT PROLIFERATE EVIL) ARE PITTING US AGAINST EACH OTHER-WAKE UP PEOPLE! THERE’S STILL TIME TO ACT, USE YOUR TALENTS FOR GOOD AS THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE CRAVING SOME TYPE OF POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP FROM THEIR ELDERS! YOU, YES GET OFF YOUR COUCH, HAVE RESPONSIBILITY IN WHAT THE OUTCOME/RESULTS TURN OUT TO BE-PERIOD.
Teens have their own ideas, despite what is taught. Freedom of expression should exist, even in teenage art.
Spoken by a high school student with little or no real life experience. This comment is so ignorant, it’s hard to figure out where to start:
“I wanted to portray the stubbornness of change, and how administration being run by older people causes societal change to backtrack, because the youth always have such different opinions that more accurately apply to the present way of life.”
This article also answered a big question for me- whether the liberal indoctrination machine had reached our schools in the valley. Do yourselves a favor and get your kids out now.
So, these spoiled, brainwashed little brats can disrespect and insult the very people who pay for their education and we are expected to just shut up and take it. NUTS! (Not Under This Sun). I just hope the little ingrates get every thing their low quality lack of education prepared them for.
The actual graphics may have been done by these students but the accompanying text has the look and smell of a left wing think tank.
This post is Free Speech. As such it is immune from criticism or censorship. Right?
Wake up America, did anyone see or attend the Turning point USA conference last weekend.
Go watch it, the speakers talked about one of the most hated groups of people is white men.
Remember you’re a boy or girl end of story.
How can you blame these kids, what has our government done for them. These souls see the constant warfare that our government has perpetuated upon them (and the American public), poisoning their food-water-air-medicine, telling them constant lies– all for profit. They see that our government (the people supposedly running it) are selfish, childish, profiters only concerned about enriching themselves because they know (deep down) there is no plan to pay back the 38 trillion in debt (that they themselves/gov people created) or any serious attempts. So, HOW CAN YOU BLAME THEM!! Maybe take a cold look in the mirror at yourself and ask-what have I done with my talents that God has Given Me!!! One, or both, of our political parties are hell bent on destroying the nation founded on Godly principals. YOU ALONE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN WASTED GOD GIVEN TALENTS-NOBODY ELSE-JUST YOU!!!!!!
The First Amendment only applies to the Congress. Read it again Joe. Slowly.
Was is the students choice or did the teacher assign a project that explicitly asked for a negative view?
Have the kids been assigned to read about Marx,Stalin ,PolPot ,Mao,Castro ,to name a few?
They haven’t ? Here’s a quick glance at Communism.
Marx- created an ideology that fueled and is still fueling the execution of untold hundreds of millions of humans .
PolPot – 1.5 to 2 million Cambodian citizens
Stalin-had nearly a million of his own citizens executed, . Millions more fell victim to forced labor, deportation, famine, massacres, and detention and interrogation by Stalin’s henchmen.
Mao- murdered tens of millions with estimates ranging from 30 million to over 70 million deaths.
Castro- Estimates suggest that Fidel Castro’s regime was responsible for the deaths of approximately 100,000 people due to various forms of repression, including executions, torture, and imprisonment.
Communism -still killing humans around the world, physical deaths, cultural deaths, death of individual expression, death to freedom of speech, to travel anywhere in the world, death to freedom of religion.
Those children’s art is dripping in irony- the fact they can’t see it, is disturbing.
The vitriol expressed in this thread merely shows the fear by the right in this country that their critics are right.
All displays project America in a bad light. Yet, we are not seeing ALL of the works. Look to the teacher who selected the pieces to display. Do they reflect their ideology and thoughts? Does this reflect what is emphasized in their classroom?
Old White Man
Timmy- the term “communist” is an ideology that is taught and instilled into people. People like yourself, feel every person should be treated the same, get the same pay, live in the same house, and be told what we can or cannot do. Because “we know what’s best for you and we’re doing it for your own good” (IE- Karen mentality). The outcome from the education system is- if you teach and instill leftist ideology into those being taught, the outcome will be a generation of leftists. So.. When you talk smack about “everyone has their own opinion” is a falsehood. The game (system) is rigged and the outcome will be the same: churning out more mini-Che’s.
I wouldn’t blame the student artists. I would bet any amount of money that every one of those pieces, expressing hatred for white men and America, directly reflect the social and political opinions of their teachers. Brainwashing, plain and simple. The NEA is our enemy.
Once a profound truth has been seen, it cannot be ‘unseen’. There’s no ‘going back’ to the person you were. Even if such a possibility did exist…why would you want to? – Dave Sim
The dark truth about the Statue of Liberty with Dr. Joy DeGruy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLmi5nxP3pQ
The Doctor is correct! The French {Frederic Bartholdi} was very happy that slavery was abolished in America and gifted us with the statue. But she was supposed to look different and her narrative was based on freedom from slavery, not freedom for immigrants. We NEED to EDUCATE the WORLD about the TRUTH!
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” The original “Liberty” statue was chained. When Bartholdi created the first models, the statue’s hands were holding broken chains to signify the end of slavery. American financiers (white Oligarch’s) were not too keen on the idea, so Bartholdi replaced the chains with a tablet. Bartholdi, however, left broken chains at the feet of Lady Liberty to remind us of the freedom from oppression and slavery. These chains are unseen by visitors as they sit atop the pedestal, however, they can be seen from an aerial view. Although the Frenchmen paid for the statue itself, they needed the help of American businessmen to provide the site and the pedestal, and they objected to any link with slavery. As a compromise, Laboulaye replaced the chains in Liberty’s hands with a book, but he left the ones at her feet. In Frederick Douglass’s narrative, chains symbolize the physical and emotional oppression of slavery, representing both bodily restraint and deep emotional scars.
Cowardice asks the question: “Is it safe?” Expediency asks the question: “Is it politic?” Vanity asks the question: “Is it popular?” But conscience asks the question: “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because one’s conscience tells one what is right. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Stop doing this, conservatives. Stop being this stupid. “Waaaah this child doesn’t know how good they have it waaah*. You know what’s not gonna teach them their privileges we have here? Telling and showing them to just shut up and stay in line because that’s what grandpa on KGB thinks you should do. Screw grandpa. Grandpas acting like a far left libtard claiming he’s conservative. Every person responsible for and cheering for the removal of stuff like this is more brain dead than a flea turd. Because every single one of them has and will continue to whine about perceived slights against their own free speech because y’all are hypocrites. Kids are *learning*. Learning requires *talking*. Not shutting up and getting in line like a moron drone. Y’all should be ashamed of yourselves and your utter lack of backbone to be able to handle kids questioning things.
It’s not hard to find hatred and racism in America, they are foundational to the political left.