The Portland daily press., 1871-02-09

DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1871.
For the Press,
n tUt Il ItSSs
Drawing 10 ,he Hmbiie Schools.
CORTLAND.

w vi IuIct IuDuluS d,O, tue SuUJtCl VI
introducing Drawing as "a required study" in
our city schools came before the School
Board, and was referred TO a committee.
That committee, after having given the mat
Ter careful consideration has reported unan-
imonsly and heartily in favor of the plan. and
it is understood that as soon as the Board
shall have agreed upon the show and when"
action will be taken and the work begun.
When it is known that there is hardly a
city in New England of the size of Portland.
in which Drawing has not already begun to be
taught, our citizens will ask, at least, what is
this study which our ncighbors think so i'm
portant? What are its advantages? Why
should not our own children enjoy themP
Extracts from the report Of the sub. commit
lee referred 10 will give some answers TO such
questions:
In making this positive and hearty recon-
mendation, the Committee desire to be thor
oughly understood, We are not advocating
the teaching OF Drawing in our schools as an
accomplishment" with the intent to secure
success in copying pictures, in reproducing
lvy-covered castles, and picturesquely unin-
habitable cottages. While we would not up-
dervaue the profits of culture to be had from
picture-making, it is not this kind OF drawing
that We recommend. We have not the time
to give TO this, nor can we afford to employ
"artists" as teachers. The Drawing we pro.
pose gives systematic culture to the sight and
the touch; induces closeness of observation,
with accuracy of imitation or expression; Of
fers as it were "a new language leads to the
development of neglected faculties; opens the
mind 10 refining influences; adds interest,
Immediately, to school work, and provides
materials through the use of which the ,vork-
man, in any calling, may become the artisan,
and his results of labor be increased in beauty
and value, and so in reward.
"Drawing is taught almost universally in the
public schools of Europe. Commissioner Bar.
nard, in his report to Congress, gives most
interesting and, indeed, surprising details of
the thoroughness with which the children are
trained,-in Germany, especially-not only in
such studies as inform and educate the mind,
but also in all the accuracies of sight and dex-
terities of touch which may be of use to them
in the various mechanical and artistic oecu-
pations of life.
I'm all the larger towns as well as in the
cities, there are "trade schools, at which boys
can acquire theoretical and practical knowl-
edge OF whatever trade is chosen for them;
but, in the common schools, all are taught
that which is serviceabe in every trade or oc-
cupaton, that which is indeed essential 10
the 9ttainment OF the highest sue cess in any
industry,-corrcct Judgment as to proportions
and outlines, an appreciation of niceties and
exactnesses of arrangement and adjustment,
with ability to reproduce, combine, invent,
create. Frec-hand draaoiag is regarded there
as the foundation for every sort of industrial
achievement, as, of course, it must be for all
the varieties of artistic production. Instruc-
tion in drawing is given, Systematically, in the
Primary Schools. As soon as child can be-
gin to aorite, he. or she can begin to drap.-
Writing and drawing are one and the same.
And so evidently does the use of the penca
assist towards the using of the pen, that in
Saxony,the boys spend but little more time in
writing and drawing than ours in writing
alone, and excel ours in writing, at that?
The hand writing of the Germans, as peo-
pie, is remarkably clear and graceful. In this
connection it may be we'll to quote from the
Hon. Horace Mann, so we'll known as an
educator, who says, in his "Visits to schools
in Europe" "Such excellent handwriting as
l saw in the Prussian Schools never saw be-
fore! This excellence must be referred, in
1auron IN tba 81
ing to draw contemporaneously with learning
to write. beliere child wiU learn both TO
dralc and acrite sooner, and ,oith more ease
than he will learn writing alone"
"But the German boy, on leaving the Gram
mar School isnot only good penman; he is
ready at once to study, and to advance rapid
ly in the theory and practice of any kind of
mechanical occupation. There is not trade
or profession, not an Industry or an art, for
which he is not already largely prepared.
And even If he does not take time for the
thorough instruction provided, even if he does
not learn "mechanicai drawins,n he becomes
better carpenter, better cabinet maker,
me;al'worker, machinist, better tailor, a
better cObbler, inasmuch as he has been train.
ed to judge accurately of size, form, proper
ton, of straight lines and curved lines; he
cannot, comfortably, be inexact or unthor.
oush in his work: he has his ideal of what
''good-work" is and strives toward 1t; he hon.
ors his craft, and it honors him. OF course,
the more complete this sisht-and-touch train
ing, the more excellent the workman. Com
psratively few of the German boys ale con-
tent not TO 60 into the "industrial schools or
the "art schools" everywhere to be found,
And the State provides instruction-gratui-
tously, often, or at very slight charge-for
architects and civil engineers, Tor designers
eneravers, sculptors and painters, for art-work-
crs in the precious metals, for every sort Of
hand work in all the industries which con-
tribute to the comfort aud enjoyment of ma
terial physical life.
Within few years our leading educators
and our leading manufacturers, have become
aware of these facts. The latter have found
that the work that sells best is that which
pledses the eye, in addition to being merely
useful. And they have tonnd themselves in
| competition with the German and French ar
tiSan, whose work. imported and made CON-
| parativey costly. is yet more saleabe than
| their own. And the manufacturers only re-
source is to import European designers and
superintendents, for there is hardly one of his
native born workman who can do more than
give tolerably accurate execution to borrowed
or imported designs. As result of our own
neglects and of foreign advancement, il is
fact thst to-day. in all the industries of the
land which require taste and artistic skill for
success, foreign morkmen occupy the most
| honorable and the most lucrative positions.n
In another communication may be allowed
| to speak of the efforts which have been made
| in neghboring states and cities toward train
| ing our own children for the highest achieve
ments in art-labor,-e efforts which we shall do
| we'll to initiate. We wish to utilize the i'm
mense water power of Maine; to see factories,
factories, factories along our riversides; to give
our young men something to do, and so 10
keep them at home. Let all work toward
these ends, each in his way; and while other
means are generously encouraged, let those
of US who are interested in education do our
part to provide that whatever can be done
anywhere, of first-class Workmanship, shall be
done in Maine. r.
| THE Old and Ne,u is the last of the FebrlI-