Building an Equation for Educational Justice

The goal of this six-week course was to engage students in the research, design and fabrication of a multiple wall mural for Sacramento High School (SHS). Research was informed by themes that related to the mission of SHS’s School of Math, Engineering and Health Science. In the final week of the program students compiled their research and artwork under the guidance of professional artists to create the final composition. The mural was then installed during five days of rigorous painting.

The project build upon the idea that the students would drive the ideas that would then be transferred into a cohesive visual design. Building upon the skills and interest of each students, a powerful creative collective was formed wherein each participant had the opportunity to explore new areas while focusing on his or her primary interest. Due to the vast opportunities that mural making invites, student had the opportunity to work as writers, painters, researchers, designers,and builders; forming a cohesive production team.

The five-wall mural filling the MEHS Atrium presents a multi layered visual equation for educational justice. A vibrant colore scheme of cherry red, adobe orange and cerulean blue invites the viewer to circulate through the space reading the writing on the walls. The three focal walls depict parts of the entire equations which speaks of the students view of a path towards educational justice. The three levels of meaning painted on the walls includes a dynamic cityscape, posterized portraits of students and an equations that unites and reiterates the compositions message.



The cityscape sets the backdrop for each central image. Located in the three focal walls are large portraits representing MEHS diverse student body. Their poses depict the three fundamental actions needed to build an equation for educational justice: action, listening and speaking. Beginning on the northerly wall, freshman Karina Munez and sophomore Katerhine Chou, posed speaking the Epictuetus quote, “only the educated are free.” During the research phase of the mural this quote was translated into twelve languages spoken at the school.

Written in large stencils is the equations :
EDUCATION = FREEDOM



Moving east, Senior Willie Jones, represents listen as he tells the story of the obstacles of urban education while on his way to study law at a four-year university. In an interview discussing the dismal numbers of students from economically disadvantaged zip codes that attend four-year universities Willie voiced, “I will be a positive statistic.” Surrounding his image are words written by MEHS students in their college entrance essays sharing hope beyond obstacles. The equation on this wall was written by the students after and inspired interview with Hope Inc. CEO, Kevin Johnson.
hope + work > the sum of all obstacles



On the third wall, Junior Donald Huff is captured in action. Using body language and music, this composition acknowledged and values multiple intelligences while inspiring dynamic movement. Written on the wall is the a translation of a quote by Martin Luther King Jr.:
The FUNCTION of education = teach/think (intensive and critically)