Published: August 14, 2008 12:26 pm            

American art coming to classrooms

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Inhofe announced Picturing America awards will be given by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to 424 schools and libraries within Oklahoma. Picturing America is a free initiative that helps teach American history and culture by bringing some of the country’s great art directly to classrooms and libraries. In September, these schools and libraries will receive forty large, high-quality reproductions of great American art and a comprehensive teachers resource book to assist educators using the works of art in core subjects.

Schools in the Ada area receiving the prints include Ada High School Library, Ada Junior High Library, Byng Elementary School, Byng School District, Center for Advancement of American History, Glenwood Early Childhood Center and Homer Elementary Library.

“As students across Oklahoma prepare to return to school this fall, a new learning opportunity awaits many of them,” said Senator Inhofe. “Picturing America is a unique program that provides students with a gateway to the humanities. By bringing great art into public and private schools, libraries and communities, this program will offer Oklahomans of all ages the opportunity to learn about our nation’s history in a fresh and engaging way. I want to encourage other Oklahoma schools and libraries to submit their applications by October 31st so that they can be considered for next year’s Picturing America Awards.”

Feedback from local educators currently participating in the nationwide Picturing America pilot program has been tremendous.

The 424 Oklahoma institutions awarded the Picturing America program join over 26,000 schools and public libraries across the country that will participate in the program.

Dr. JoAnn Layne of the Byng School District said, “The Picturing America prints will be of great value to the Byng School District. Students, adults and the citizens of our rural Oklahoma community as a whole will benefit from these pieces of artwork depicting scenes from American history. This artwork will enrich the meaning to these moments in American history for our students, staff, and community.”

        

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