The Sanctuary Of School By Lynda Barry

The development of public schools provides children of all ages and from all social classes a free education and a positive environment. Lynda Barry unfortunately came from a family of lower class, and did not have much growing up. In her article, “The Sanctuary of School”, Barry illustrates a time in her youth when she felt the need to sneak out of her house filled with financial stress, depression, and misery. After sneaking out one morning extremely early, Barry felt the need to walk to school. Barry’s message throughout the essay focuses on the positive impacts public school has on less fortunate children. She hopes her story and her message will convince the government that public schools do not need to be cut from state budgets. With an unfortunate lifestyle and a school where she found the attention and happiness she was searching for, Barry successfully draws her readers in emotionally and shows them how so many students rely on public schools for not just education, but for a place they can be their selves. In the beginning of her narrative, …show more content…
LeSane would randomly go up to students individually throughout the day and asked if they wanted to create pictures for her. Each student Mrs. LeSane would go up to would always be excited to sit apart from the class and draw whatever their hearts desired. Mrs. LeSane “believed in the natural healing power of painting and drawing for troubled children.” Barry explained how art became to mean so much to her. She emphasized, “I learned to build myself a life preserver that I could carry into my home.” She feels as if art was one of the few things that helped her survive through such a tough time in life with neglectful parents and financial burrows. She uses this scenario in her narrative to show the importance of art, music, and creative activities in educational systems, because the country believes artistic activities should be the first to delete if money is