8.9.2007 Ueberstreichen - Redecorating

In Germany we have the expression: "Einfach überstreichen". It translates into English as: if you don't like your tired looking wall colors anymore, just get some fresh paint and a brush.

Well,the kids of the class my daughter attends - were moved upstairs into a new classroom at the beginning of the new school year a few weeks ago and they resented their green walls from the start.

So last night a few parents - assisted by two very supportive teachers and three eager students - met and we started to redecorate the classroom - we used some nice yellow paint to ueberstreichen that strange green.About two and a half hours later we congratulated ourselves on the great and clean result we had achieved.The pictures show the students and two smiling and artistic women: the head teacher and the elected PTA parent - would you guess who is who?

This was the second time that I was involved in repainting a classroom.The first one happened when our daughter was in first grade.The other parents spoke of similar experiences - I find it intriguing that our city authorities encourage parents to do small school improvements by themselves. I know, basically, it has to do with a lack of funds and yet what a mental stretch to hand over the Überstreichen activities to us - a happy bunch of (well intended) amateurs.How would the Belleville schools handle a local request such as ours?How would we find out?