Graffiti Letters by Students Inspire Others
Excerpts from letters written by sixth-graders about graffiti at Rosemead’s Savannah Elementary School (Times Dec. 6, 1992) inspired sophomore English teacher Karen Blumenfeld to propose an assignment in argumentative writing to her students at Ganesha High School in Pomona.
Their views on graffiti, ranging from admiration to fear to disgust to resignation, came in a deluge of 88 letters. “Thank you for ‘Children React to Graffiti Problem’--it led me to an exciting assignment in which nearly all students got involved. This is a real accomplishment,” Blumenfeld wrote.
The majority of the writers harshly disapproved of graffiti and related gang violence, but some looked at the problem from the perspective of the tagger, reaching a different conclusion. Following are excerpts, with the original spelling and grammar:
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I would like you to keep this in mind . . . that if you and your neighbors and the whole community got together, hey, I personally think you can do it! And if it does, hey, that’s even better for you and your neighbors kids you know. You won’t have to worry about your kids getting punched around or being afraid of someone or some little gangster. You don’t necessary have to run away by moving to another city you know, if you got what it takes not only will they be heard, at least you can be proud of what you’ve done but knowing that your kids will come home safe and know that now my friend is something to feel special about.
JESUS CORRAL
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