New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-31
DRAWING IN TUE SCHOOLS.


A RE ,ERANGENiEST ~ GRADES PROPOsED--pRAWI%G
VANTAGEs or A KNOWLEDGE OF THAT BRANCH
TO the Editor of The Tribune.
SIR: Mr. Wood, like his namcsake IN Boston,
and Some others entertain certain Idosyncrac views
concerning public education which, Is 10 ne ieared lead
Them to TOO severe criticism, As, when sleaknG ior 10
stanceOf the syscmas CHG OF cheap anu inchlcchI III
sruction Reasonably cheap 1t is but when akn aI'an-
tae of in way to Justify roDpIriS III with o;h'r means
of viii lie 0uud devcopas good scholars
as the best private Institutions and academies, taking
pupils Of the age and leaving the studies OF Ltlh
and Greek out OF the comparison, Mr.. Wood WILL
tlInk agree with me that the uOnbe does not tic I'D
any lack of capacity in our system TO ensure reason
ably goodspducaton. but That the detect is that our
course Of study having been constructcd-soiO speak
AZ whole the trouble is lcvc Hoped its operation with
scbolalS more especially Doye VINO isaVe school below
the average age of IA, without having passed
through the up9cr grades, wh'rr, by Increased
intelligence and The opportunities TO devote
more time to the m. they enabled to cOnprchcnd with
comparative freedom, the more scientific studies winch
have ia part proved staInl!ing blocks to them below
All systems and schools nave, and would he Incomplete
without eliminating point III the progress OF the pIpl
and teachers aud parents &Hc dissatisfied VILE the
results partial course. IL il therefore desirable 10
render the system elective. AMI, as 1t is fact
that Ot Of boys leave below the az OF Il aud he
fore they have PASSED through the Sri;l f S'd IL IL
possible perhaps, Tcdrra1gc in part the studies for
CERTAIN grades thdt such branches OF science as may
d'termiued to be OF practical nse shall tie prov!c4
for only III the higher Glasses Au here TOO some dis
elimination can be mad, b. elimination or Otherwise
az for IUstdDce for the rs the suhstItu ion OF more
Thorough study OF English literature in place OF the
higher mathematics for the lover grades, give pTOni
nence to reading spelling, arithmetic, wntlnS, anu
study the English languasc All our grades Will be
oHD II "A
adjustment will produce good results to all concorued
A. one Of the technical stades, regret that nissan
dorstaudinG generally prevails as 10 drawing ~ our
schools. and that it Is looked upon ~ hurlnou+ or
fancy slady that he auyht IN the many with any
lasting beucht On reflection think 1t will b. placed
among the most useful, and eXp"rcnre vi" show that
the results Of one stniy w'l more dr?>!v nnr" to
tic advantage Of given nuaibcr;of rul': Whrn they
leave SCHOOL should they seek to apply Their knOwleGe
II is not desirable NOR hardly practicable. 10 teach
drawing as at south .nsUgtOn and Antwerp OF other
EurOpean art schools, or At our soctd s"uooIs o de-
son where from three 10 five years OF special study "a
rcoured; but the rIdinents, which are common 10 all
can be taught the education OF the mind ana The trdl
lug Of tho eye and hand be introduced with pera
nent advantage, While forming incidentally basis for
intelligent development for the young III Vtuer stntIes
Tie advantage Of elementary knowledge IN drawing
what might lie called very appropriately INDUSTRIAL
drawng-corrccy taught. mast he WORM all II costs
Tho dcvclopmcnt OF tasle and Ingenuity to the enbrvO
desIgner COMP ehcusioH OF size proportion and form
10 the young artist the faculty to design for ccnstruc
ton for the mec banjo and the variety OF combination
Of AL these branches, suggest vide field % uscf6ncss
as resulting from Jddicous incorporation O1 THIS STUDY
iu our schools.
study of drawing chemistry or natural philosophy,
or even astronomy and music as nseesst In cOl-
nuny like Boston, for instance where puDlc education
is supDOs I'd have reached ts inquest deveiOnohi III
this country, and where tue sciences anu iahgdats are
,lluf
higher average intel iHenCel Aud Will not the standard
Of capacity and QUALIFICATIONS Tor Gelcral nseuncSS
range aso And wall not the ratio OF those httrd
for Skcd labor per given number thereby bc greater
than ~ OthCr cOumuUitcs1 As further evidence OF
fp 0scfuress OF dra wing study III our schools for
all 90 10 any hafdOzeu car?enter or maep,pe snaps
M ndoD, or consult the first cldnlC yJd happen 10
know and ask him the opinion he en!eftalns, hsi OF
his capacity to draw plainly or to understand WORKING
drawings and designs h6 fortunately possesses tne
ouali6 atloD-I speak OF tine 'cdc3 who were boys
81 years ago; and second If not possessing tue faculty.
to understand aud WORK from, or 10 make ecalc or
working drawing: whether tue hrst instance he has
realized that II has been 81 great faluc anu adVa
tage 10 him. in the second nsauce whether II mas
Tot great detrIment TO lis SUCCESS anu advance
ment in lite.
will leave their answers n any ekcpc on
the subject and their answers Will represent thOushnd'
TO be derived from inquiry uudef tue eahe clTul.
stances, The superintendent OF the COrss WOrks AT
Providence says that they pay their w0iklnen VINO
understand and read a working drawing higher
wages those VINO cannot us au encouragement 10
study drawing and as q matter or economy.
Finally, an in hopes that drawing wiz be continued
TO be- taught n PLAN common sense way ~ our
or any haIfdOzen gentlemen " his knowledge OF the
subject would approve feeling satisfied that 1t must
prove a very efficient means OF increasing The Opp0rlu-
on physical energies and with more possibilities ior
those equipments which toward making LIE easter
aud happier 10 our working casses . ~
Respectfully IOdlb, JNO. 4. CCLlER
Eec York, Dee, -, 1874