New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-14
ORA WING IN TIE SCHOOLS.

MASSACHUSETTS DRAWING EXHIBITION.
PRuGREss MADE IN TIE INSTRUCTION OF TEACHERS
AND SCHOLARS DURING TIE YEAR-sYsTEM OF
TEACHING ADOPTED.
IFROM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TR:BUNEI
BosrON June 10.-A very marked interest
has been excited by the State Drawing Exhibition, open
during the present week at the rooms OF the Boston Ar
CLUB and al Horticultural Hall. 1t has not only been
hronged by BUsoniaDs but teachers and Others from
NewYoll ana yet more distant places have visited the
Exhibition in order to examine the WORKINGS aud results
of bur system Of instruction. The Austrian Minister has
been one of the careful inspectors of the Exhibl
ton and has spent much time in discussing tie system
with its promoters art instruction Is matter IN
which Austria ia deeply Interested. Thousands have
come and gone studied and commented and there has
heen so far as have heard very general expression
Of satisfaction with the Improvement since last year
II il four years since Massachusetts, took her new
departure in instruction. and the results OF these
years have striking that now seems safe to pre-
dict complete in making every citizen his own
artist Massachusetts undertook nothing less than to
give all her residents sound and comprehensive instrc
ton in art. Having secured the aid Of Mr. Walter Smith
as State Director State Normal School was two years
ago, established under his supcrntenlencc In order TO
insure the thorough training of band Of teachers to carry
out his ideas in the public schools His theory and that
of those who have Interested themselves In this work. Is
that art education, in order TO be OF the greatest
possible value, must be as generally disseminated
as the knowledge of reading and spelling 1t must belong
to consumers as wei as To producersi ana
II every person can write less well after GER
tain amount Of instruction So after certain amount OF
Instruction. every person can draw moro or less WE'LL
and as every intelligent person read writing every
Intelligent person and should know something about
art The artist well as tie orator needs ais audience
and only find it in community where at least the
ru.liments Of artistic knowledge are common property
t.1.ff f..tyt
vided that industrial drawing should be taught in all the
public schools but that every city Of over 10000 inhab
tants should maintain free evening drawing school for
adults
or the results this liberal and comprehensive system
the the second-Sreat Exhibition affords
the best opportunity we have as yet had to form
Judgment. That it Is satisfactory is the general
verdict In all the cities Of The ST tic tie ear teachers
have been instructed in drawing to greater or less de
gree, while large proportion OF the Boston teachers
have already received certificates from Prof Smith
testying to their ability TO teach all that required in
their schools Soon the entire BODY Of teachers IN Mcss
chsetts will be thus trained so that the plans Of Prof
Smith and his coabOrers seem to be not OILY cOnprehen
sye but practical The number Of students attending the
State Normal Art School last year WAS more than two
hundred there is therefore, goOd for hoping that
there will speedily he fun supply of trained teachers
for the evening classes and also for the supervision Of the
instruction in the Public Schools.
the general character OF the instruction. Wha; this is IL
is not difficult state, since the work exhibition
shows wcLdcfined stages of progress Everything Is
simple. aud cachablc and orderly There Is no mystery
no Naguencss, no uncertainty IN The movement. The be-
ginning rophcSics Of the end; and Tat en Is reached
by intelligent and logical steIe. Such Is the general
character Of The instruction, to which The details core
spond The beginning Is made IN tho primary schools
the learner can draw square. lie is taught
to draw ornamental designs basel c square lie is
thus made acquainted With The FIRST clements ~ dccrra
tive art. The gcomerca forms are succeeded by the
conventional rornls OF leaves, flowers, birds
designs BASED on soue scomriiea tYlie, as
The square. triangle circle. Inc drawings are
made sose from HAT comics, some from detai'on some
from memory while others are original designs Ill
winch the children take great delight.
The same instruction Is continued in the grammar
school but the STANDARD Of requirement ~ higher AMI
some OF il"c D NH, am ST. he rs ma
there begun also drawing from models ard objects IN
ficehani respective. Tue representation of the solids
in outline Is alone attempted noIhns is done with light
AMI shade rs is held to- he essential FIRST Ia master TIE
pure outline In the designs for ornament III relief nali-
tint what employed.
The instruction given in the grammar school again
continued in the high school with higher standard
Of requirement. Drawing from the cast ornament, and
figure in light and shade are ntrodnced also cchdn-
zeal drawing and the use of waer-colos Much attcn-
ton ia given to specific practical applications OF Whit has
been previously learned aud aio 81 what Is taught IN
the high school; hence mu,n Of the high school study ~
made elective. Thus, While the work done III the differ
grades has logical conn"ct"n easily distinguishes
bile, there marked difference IN the appearance OF the
results exhibited.
The work the evening classes shows of practi
and affords cl3bO.atc results. A. II II the
business OF the state Normal Art Scoo TO provide teach
rrs Tor the public ODs and evening glasses, OF course
the work exhibited 10y the students Of this school pre-
the general features which have been already
described We nave The results OF the first
wears al course the full four years,
and ground nstrlc ION IN oil the departments OF
drawing, painting, nouciing, and sculpture.
This exhibition clearly proves that drawing can be In
tcligcnlly taught IN public schools, and ny tle rcgI
lar teachers Indeed, II lee taugt 10y them, II salts
factory results Ia br secured. Take tie work oil, red
by any grade AMI We must pronounce II excellent Even
that from tnc primary schou cic j. 81 much in"li
gence displayed that II Is evd,nt the children know
what they about. Among the original designs from
til, grammar schools there some winch remark
ahlc Invention aud taste sOile Of those u color, Tor
table ware, cloths etc. by pups In the girls high school
afford exceedingly delicate combinations Of tnIs. We
have III tails exhibition the first examples Of industrial
designs done Ia color and from natural forms by pupils
IN the evening glasses. These from Lowell
Upon inquiry among teachers, mud that the time de-
voted 10 drawing II one hour aud half u two hours
each week. and the teachers wi"n. exception. say that
the effect other studies In decidedly advantageous
Many declare themselves In favor Of drawing II only Tor
it, good influence other pursuits, by training pu
pills ~ habits OF correct observation and metIOticai
ways Of working. The advocates Of the MasschusetIs
syrten claim only that admirable beginning has been
nssde-a beginning which may well be encvnra eIrnt