Cape middle schools paint for change

Jazzie Lovett wasn't sure what to do when her Mariner Middle teacher told her to come up with a visual design that shows respect and acceptance.

It took the eighth-grader about a week, but in the end, she decided to paint a clock that shows time will not heal everything, but acceptance will.

Jazzie was one of about 600 who participated in the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation's mural project at Mariner Middle School. Across the Cape Henlopen School District, 600 students participated at Beacon Middle School, creating a mural out of individual book spines.

Each student painted a book spine that represents diversity, tolerance, respect and acceptance – a project the Freeman Foundation has taken to several other schools throughout Sussex County.

Jazzie said the best part was painting.

“I like the hands-on part of it,” she said. “A lot of my friends weren't sure about it either, at the beginning. But when we started doing it, it was fun. My whole perspective changed.”

Eighth-grader Gabe Best said he and his friends enjoyed the painting part, too.

“We don't get to paint a lot,” he said. “With this, we got to do our own thing.”

Gabe took a couple of days to come up with his book spine art – a tree.

“It made me think you have to grow through life,” he said.

Mariner Middle will officially reveal its mural at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 8. Beacon's mural will be revealed at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 7.