New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-29
CHILDREN TAUGHT TO DRAW
A MASSACHUSETTS EDUCATIONAL EXPERT
MFNT

sysrKM-pRAwrNG NOW A PART OF TIlK REGu-
LAR CouRsE-HE BEST RESULTS FROM ThE
YOUNGEST Pupils
,ypoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIRE TRIBUNE.]
BosroN. MAY M.-The State and city ex-
h,bou Of drawings horticultural hall which opens
on Monday will be Of the most interesting eXhibi
lions Of this kind that Boston has had. The In
terest which attaches merely from the large
number Of schools represented and the general exce
hence Of the exhibited but from the fact that u
the Arst fruit Of system OF art instruction "ho"
Massachusetts, has adopted for her day ana evening
public schools. When Say new system' W aO'
mean that Massachusetts has discovered any peculiar
method Of drawing which is to reyoluionSc inc iiin0
pies OF art and give meaning to curves anu
which they did not possess before but SIMPLY tnat sne H
laying broad and deep the foundation OF an euueS"on
which recognizes the law Of growth ana eVouuon ~ '
~ we'll arithmetic. the end OF snen growth anu e
means by. which II is TO be proinOod ihe
great deficiency the results OF previous
enorts TO introduce drawing as part OF
school study has arisen partly from an inadequate dea
Of liz importance parity from making 1t speciality IN
ehOols distinct from the common course OF study rom
msoonoepton OF the real aim OF such instruction, ana
from the utter lack Of competent teachers The whole
tpdepey OF systems has been to teach children
70 make pretty pictures end of course to be reeog
.ised but insufficient to the wants Of industrial
unity insufficient for the carpenter the Joiner or
the machinist, who has never learned how TO apply
drawing TO his business There Ia not town or city IN
the United States outside Of Massachusetts where orR
nal designs are required every week from all pupils
OF the public schools beginning in the lowest
class the primary schools and running up TO the high
est classes in the grammar and high schools They
taught copy, but not to invent The general barren
ness culture this country may be attributed
largely TO the fact that servle imtators rather
than creators Massachusetts is seeking to remedy this
and though her method has been in vogue but
hart irna VIII at
tioultura Hall and learns under what circumstances and
by whom they we're drawn, see with half an eye
that Massachusetts just started the right track
Yet Massachusetts, always been supposed to lead in
II she has been wrong doubt If any other
RtAte in the Union afford 70 cast stones at her
ORIGIN OF SYSTEM
This movement in favor Of art education was initiated
m Massachusetts, mainly by Francis Lowell John d.
Phbrek Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools
Prof VIM. r Ware Of the Institute OF Technology, and
Chas l. Perkins. These gentlemen, with the CO.
operation Of the leading manufacturers in the State Sc
cured the passage by the Legislature OF provision
curing that drawing be taught one Of the regular
branches Of education in all of the public schools Of the
State, and that every town Of 1900 inhabitants
should support free drawing school for adults Essen
sental the objects aud OF the plan the
pOintment of man fully competent 10 organize
suitable system of public school instruction,
and 10 manage the free drawing schools
great difficulty encountered in selecting the right
The authorities of the South Remington Museum,
England appealed to in this emergency, and at
once named Mr. Walter Smith, KensingtOn graduate
ana Superintendent of the School Leeds In Mr..
Smith they found a OF great experience thoroughly
acquainted with the various features of the continental
eystems, and possessing organizing power. He
induced to 70 Boston and take charge Of the
enterprise. He made State Director of Art Educa-
ton, and by the city, Superintendent Of Drawing in the
Boston Public Schools He has been here only little
fmn INIT tho off anhf hQ
results achieved in that time certainly
prising. Mr.. Smith is OF the
spirit rather than the letter. and his value
inspiration art culture in Boston
IL readily in the stimulus which his presence has
that department Of study. The effect of this
movement has been to place drawing q level
with other school studies, but not above them
Mr. Smith gives teachers to understand that they
not TO teach drawing amusement or accomplish
ment but as a branch OF knowledge having most init
relation Of the important industries
Of the times. Drawing must not be recognized as a
special study until the higher and technical branches
reached and the grammar school and primary
should according TO Mr. Smith, be required to teach
1t themselves, and not depend special teacher. 1t
10 only in this that sufficient teachers could be
cured. Mr.. Smiths time Ia then devoted entirely to
the teachers. The success Of this plan might be
doubted If there were not ocular demonstration OF
its success in the exhibition which, by the kindness
Of the Committee, was permitted to- visit TO-
day in advance Of the public opening. Teachers who
may be but poor practical draughtsmen draughts-
women them selves, may nevertheless be able to
muDcate the principles Of drawing that very young
pupils shall comprehend and apply them. This Mr.
Smiths first effort He does not want fneness OF
tOn at FIRST but drawing which shows knowledge OF the
art. and drawing which expresses thought To in
doernate the teachers thoroughly he meets them every
week and expOunds PRINCIPLES and methods and watches
them working in the schools There lOo teachers in
Boston. Seven-ei0hths of them attend Mr., Smith'e
lectures Last year 500 Of these teachers examined
IN drawing and most OF them passed in three
subjects. All that be done with teachers
at present lie 20 teach them TO teach. In the
State Normal Art School TO be established three years
course win be provided for special teachers Insruc-
sn IN the primary schools by the regular teachers them
is given four times week in halfhour lessons In
the grammar schools there three lessons of half
each; in the high schools lessons OF hour
each. There are 80 grammar schools, 50 primary.
and ak high and schools in Boston, and there
about classes in each OF them. Every class in these
schools sends specimens 10 the exhibition, class being
allowed 10 send more six To show the actual re-
sult the drawings have not been arranged according
schools but according to classes that easy to
what the combined product OF any grade OF
scholars for all the schools of Boston.
BEST RESULTS IN THE PRIMARY DEPARTMENTS
The greatest results OF the movement SEEN Of
course, In the Primary Department, where pupils
their very entrance into school and taught
after this system II has only been working about
year and therefore great results be expected OF
the advance grammar ana high school scholars, who
have had the elementary training which Is
plated The Is adapted TO furnish weekly instruc
ton 70 pupils from the lowest class the primary de-
partment to the highest class in the high schools IL is
only therefore, when the primary children. who
been ushered into the mysteries Of art almost from the
cradle shall reached advanced standing that the
1ssf resuta can he shOWn primary school cOurga