Be Sure to Give Mine Special Attention 1955

This pen and ink drawing by Herbert Lawrence Block depicts a crowded classroom scene. The title, "Be Sure to Give Mine Special Attention", brings a sardonic wit to the fore of post-war American life. It's hard to ignore the realities of the era, the mid-20th century. This was a time when the cultural ideals of family life and accessible education collided head-on with economic and social strains. Block captures the tension in the face of the teacher who looks overwhelmed by the mother's demand, in front of a room bursting with children. The visual narrative speaks volumes about the changing roles of women both in the workforce, as teachers, and at home, as mothers advocating for their children. The artwork invites us to consider the emotional labor within these roles and the societal pressures that came with them. It asks us to remember how the personal and the political have always been deeply entwined.