The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-11
Art Schools.

Art Schools.
The American people, with some reason,
pride themselves on the attention paid to the
education of the masses. In perhaps no other
country Is the same generous liberaity shown
in the cause of primary instruction, and the
result Is seen in the remarkable average Of in
telligence found among the population. But
while the present system, 50 far as it goes,
deserves praise, there can be no concealing
the fact that it possesses many and serious de-
fects. The world is ever rolling onward, and
what is progress to-day may be stagnaiion to-
morrow. We have become so habituated to
plume ourselves on the excellence of our edu-
cational system that In our self-contentment
we have not perceived the rapid advance
which other nations are making in the higher
branches of education. Whatever the good
qualities Of our public schools, as primary
establishments, they are lamentably behind in
all that relates to science and art. In these
days it is not sufficient that the youth Of ma
ton should be taught to read, write and
cipher something more is necessary, and that
something is the Knowledge of the laws Of
natural science and art, which enables men to
enter with honor aud success upon the strug-
gle Of life.
: Germany, France and England have recog-
nized this truth, and special schools hare been
created for tho farmer, the chemist, the art
workman and tho artist. The Capitalization
Of power in the hands Of few men enables
these countries to change their educational
system with greater rapidity, and with more
unity of purpose, than can be done in America,
owing to our federative form Of government;
and this is strong reason why the press
should lose no opportunity in preaching need
full reforms. At the present moment few
men, alive to the necessity for higher educa-
ton, are urging upon the authorities of this
city the desirability of introducing science as
a branch of study into all the public schools;
and this effort has our warmest sympathy.
1t reflects good deal of discredit on the ma
tons that take pride in the freedom Of their
institutions that the most perfect system of
popular education exists under the despotic
rule of the Prussian Kaiser.
In beginning this article we had intended to
COuuuc OuI IcudIhS w Vic SuDjcCt Vi arJ III
struction, In which important branch of educa-
ton we are especially backward. Only few
days have passed since the halls of the Cooper
Union were thrown open, and the public in
vited by the directors to go and view the
progress made by the art pupils of the insti-
tute We visited that exhibition, and were
pleased to note evidence of attention and
labor on the part of the pupils. But for the
most part it was labor misdirected and wasted
There was no evidence of correct training,
nor of any knowledge of the fundamental prin-
ciples Of art and with imperfect or vicious
training it Is impossible for the ordinary
student ever to become an artist. Unless art
schools are capable Of educating men pos
sessed of the necessary talent to be artists
their raison d'etre ceases, and they become an
evil and a nuisance, because they waste valua-
BILE time in efforts that can never result in
anything useful or beautiful.
It is humiliating to think that in this me-
tropolis of great nation there is not one
school of design where the aspiring art student
can receive the direction and instruction neces-
sary to the development Of whatever natural
talent he may possess. When We compare
this total neglect OF art with the care and
attention paid to it in Europe we cease to be
astonished at the small number of artists
which America produces. But the question
lies deeper than the production or non-pro-
duction of what are arbitrarily called works of
art 1t is not alone that we are deprived Of
- ;nksr, and Lot,
which in themselves are loss that cannot be
estimated by q mere money value, but the arts
Of life suffer alphabetically with the higher
arts upon which they depend for development.
With the love of the beautiful, which arts be-
get, grows up national taste that reacts
mechanic, and in just proportion as the higher
arts advance to perfection mechanical skill
Is developed. This truth would soon become
apparent in America If the skilled labor which
is educated in Europe, and attracted here
were suddenly withdrawn. America would
then recognize the immense mistake which is
being made in neglecting to establish schools
where the American youth might acquire art
knowledge.
Now that the Commissioners of Education
have taken in hand to reform our public
schools they should not alone place them on
an equality but take measures to make them
superior to any in the world; and no sys-
TEN which ncglects to provide art education
for the people can be considered satisfactory.
We may not be able to initiate Germany,
France, and England, by establshin schools OF
design in every town and village, but we have
right to expect that in the great centres OF
population art instruction Of the highest order
will be placed within reach of all. The CHIEF
d ficulty would b, to procure competent