FULLERTON : Trustee Draws on Art Class to Stay in Touch With Schools

Marjorie B. Pogue spent Tuesday morning explaining how to mix paint and draw to a sixth-grade class at Acacia Elementary School.

Pogue, a former sixth-grade Fern Drive Elementary School teacher, directed the art lesson as part of her continuing effort to help schools offer such classes in light of the current financial climate, which may force the Fullerton School District to stop funding arts programs.

Pogue, 67, the new president of the district’s board of trustees, said she wants to visit every classroom in every school to give art lessons and chat with teachers, students and administrators by the end of the year.

Pogue, whose mother was an artist, began her school visits last year but has become known throughout the city for her free art lessons, which she began when she retired in 1989.

Students say they appreciate the lessons.

“Mrs. Pogue is nice. She helps us to go step by step,” said 12-year-old Alondra Anzar.

“Art is just a hobby for me,” Pogue said. “I call this a no-fail lesson. It’s a success thing. You can’t do art wrong and it’s very important that children don’t get turned off to art.”

Acacia Principal Georgia Menges praised Pogue for her work. She said Pogue “really cares about the kids and the teachers. She’ll do a good job as school board president because she’s keeping perspective of what it’s like to be in the classrooms.”

Pogue said that’s her purpose. “When you go visit schools, you see the problems that are unique to each classroom and it makes you more aware of what’s going on, what it’s like to be in a classroom on a hot day with no air conditioning or no music lesson or whatever,” she said.