American 'Delegation' from Muskego Makes an Impression in France

Paula Johnson-Fox has been to France three times, living there for a semester in college, but a recent visit to the country over Easter break garnered her unexpected prestige.

Embarking on a one-week visit, the Muskego High School French teacher along with Paula Gleason, who teaches French at Lake Denoon Middle School, and others who were interested in art and history had been told of the historic village by another instructor.

"The trip was organized by Rhea Sprecher, who teaches art and history to educators," according to Johnson-Fox. "Rhea found the connection to Mr. Richard (historian) and the Bazille monument," she explained. "Without her knowledge and organizing, Paula Gleason and I couldn't have had this experience."  

The day trip to Beaune-la-Rolande, the village where Frédéric Bazille, impressionist artist, died during the Franco-Prussian War, proved to be part diplomatic visit and media event. 

"They really went all-out for us," Johnson-Fox said.  "We met the mayor's three assistants and were invited to lunch with the mayor as well," she said.

In addition, the monument that served as a war memorial and memorial for Bazille was cleaned in anticipation for their arrival, and an American flag was raised in front of the city hall for their visit.

Two French newspapers even sent journalists to cover the event, calling the group "the American delegation."

The group also met with the president of the village's historical society, who provided further information on Bazille, the village and the war. Bazille studied with Renoir, and years later was friends with other famous artists like Claude Monet and Eduoard Manet. He joined a regiment of the army just prior to the war's outbreak and died on the battlefield in Beaune-la-Rolande at the age of 28.

For Johnson-Fox and her fellow French teacher, Gleason, the trip was also a great opportunity to improve on their language skills.

"We really had the ability to practice our French," she said. "So many in our group were historians or interested in art, but they didn't know the language, so we often served as interpreters.  That was a great experience, and it's nice to bring something like that back to share with our students as well."