The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-02-20
E.f.ea faf tbt M~suehestcr JorEssl.
AWtNG N THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

shown by the act Of the Massachusetts,
/ Legislature. olIs1o. which introduced
/ Drawing among the compulsory studies
iu the Common Schools aud, also
made provision for free instruction in
/ Mechanical or Industrial Drawing for
every person over fifteen years Of age.
To show the design Of this act aud the
best method Of carrying into execution
is the object Of this article!
As Drawing has hitherto been taught,
considered by teachers as a mere catch
penny extra, often very profitable to
themselves, aud viewed by the pupils
as an accomplishment, Of which, the
specimens corrected and finished up by
the teacher, are splendidly framed, con
sp]icuousIy hung, aud proudly exhibit
ed, il is a mere sham, on which time
and money are actually thrown away.
On leaving school the pencil is drop
ped, and never again taken up, neither
the taste nor judgement has been culti-
waited, neither the eye nor the hand has
been trained, aud the hours spont in
the drawing class, give to life no new
resources, either for happiness or
profit.
But hideous as have often been these
caricaturcs, they gave to the world
the dim s~hadowing Of something to
come, which should combine at once
the useful and the beautiful, and have
paved the way for the entrance of true
art, not merely as ornamental, but as
essential 10 q thorough education and
TO the practical business Of everyday
life. This is like a new language, for
the representation upon paper Of solid
form, is, truly an expression o~fthought,
and in the world Of business, becomes
an important element, in trades and
manufactures; the skilled workman is
no longer a mechanical laborer but an
intelligent artisan. Very many Of ouI
manufacturing establishments are de.
pendent for their success, mainly, up.
on their skilled designers and draughts.
men. We have hitherto sent to Europe
for we'll designed models or practical
draughtsmen, but our people are tired
Of depending on others for what might
as well be done at home, hence this ACT
of the Massachusetts, Legislature.
The inquiry naturally follows, who
should be thus educated ? Until with,
in a very short time it has been com,
monty believed hat to learn drawing
some particular talent must have beer
-. manifested, a special love for it mus
have been so evident that the Michae
Angelo, the Leonardo da Vinci, the
Raphel shall be conspicuous in the frs.
] efforts of his iufanth0od. But in these
days, what intelligent parent or teach
] er waits for remarkable aptitude 70.
the languages. or wonderful calculating
powers, OF an absorbing love for pen
maushipl Where any Of these specia
preferences do exist they are, or shoult
bee, carefully cultivated, but withou.
any special prediction the ability &
: read, TO write, 10 reckon, to acquirr
2 various languages is developed an,
carefully trained, till some circum
stance or combination Of circumstance
, shall lead to a profession for life. An,
child who can learn to write can lear.
to draw, precisely the same talents ar
required IN the one case as in th
other; by actual statistics IL is foun.
, that about one hundred per cent. q
school chi lrcn can learn 10 draw well
rejecting only those who are actual.
deficient either 10 mental OF bodiI
powers.
The child cannot commence 10
A young, beginning with the power {
= grasp the pencil. OF the chalk, OF cyo
i, a bit Of coal the hand should draw
D., line, uo matter, At fust what or how
. the child is delighted with bis uncout
~, production as the powers Of obscrv,
4 ton increase and the hand gain
-. strength the straight line OF the curry
becomes more truthful. as the eye b,
comes more trained the rude line b,
comes more significant and exactly q
size infant reasoning powers bec0mI
in time. lbe gigantic master mind S
DO the first rode sketches result, In til
. work uf the finished artist, sculpto.
mach iuis. or practical artisan. At n
time should drawing be- taught iof II
mere purpose 81 making somcthin
pretty, hat ly the use Of the blAcl
board, il should receive the sam
b. severe drilling as Is given to any oth'
D. elementary subject As the pupil a.
"a ya1ees from the simpler ~ the mol
e. .. 1885,