A Charming Form of Recognition

Ben was making some collages using old National Geographic Magazines.
I flipped through some of them and found an article about the 25th anniversary
celebration of the National Gallery of Art here in Washington, D.C.

Now most art teachers that I know can clean up well but isn't this fabulous!
Here we have First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson recognizing art educators at the White House, awarding them gold medals and also giving them the extravagant (by 1967 standards) sum of $500 for their fine efforts.

Will we ever see the day again when art educators experience such prestigious recognition outside of their peer groups?