Who is Mr Tough and Why is My School Named After Him?

This is an excellent question.

Tough Elementary website has a bio on Coulson Tough. However, the artist wants to know more than just a few things written down on a website. She wants to know Mr. Tough personally. How does she do that when he is no longer alive? She can't talk to him. She gets much of that part of the creative process through family and friends. As they tell her about this great man, she gets a "feel" for him, and she knows that makes the sculpture more alive and more personal. So as she learns about this man, you will learn about him. 

Here are some questions she has asked the family.

He became an architect. Were there things about him as a child that people thought he might become an architect? For example, did he like to build things? 

Many times, history or events change a person's path. Did this happen? 

What kind of man was he? Did he like education? 

Again, the artist is being a detective and loves this part of the journey. 

Teachers and Students

• What things would you ask if you had to learn about a relative that is no longer living? 
• Who would you ask? 
• Do you think you could become friends with someone no longer alive and "like" them just because of the stories you hear?  
• Why is learning about people and their history necessary? 
• What do you want people to remember about you? 

Has The Artist Created Sculpture for Other Schools?

Yes. Many Schools have mascots. A mascot is a symbol. A lot of times it is  an animal. Often people think a mascot brings luck. They are very proud of their school mascots. 

Prairie View Panther

Bridgette Mongeon first created Prairie View Panther for Prairie View A&M. Then she was contacted by Grambling State University, and they said they wanted something bigger and meaner. Their Tiger is about 15 feet tall. 

The Grambling Tiger. Do you remember how old the artist said that her granddaughter is today? Here is a funny photograph of her granddaughter when Bridgette was creating the Grambling Tiger. Issa grows up with her grandma's art. As a side note: the tiger did not eat Issa. 

Called To Pray

Bridgette also created this sculpture titled Called To Pray. You can see this at Dallas Baptist University. It is not a mascot but a sculpture of something important to the school- prayer. 

Booker T Washington 

Her most recent  school sculpture is not even installed yet. It is of Booker T. Washington Sitting in a chair and will go to Booker T Washington High School in Houston

Questions for teachers and students

Does your school have a mascot? 

If it does not, what type of mascot do you think it should have and why?

Did the schools that your parents go to have a mascot?

Was there a sculpture or a painting of the mascot at their school?