1. Damage from citywide looting after Saddam's ouster has been largely repaired, and portraits of Saddam no longer hang over the blackboards.
2. Once the rain had stopped the students would have to repaint the blackboards with ink, which would get washed off in the downpour.
3. blackboards
3. As part of the contest, all blackboards at the back of classrooms should bear the sponsor's logo and promotional articles.