Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-28
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Drawing in Sohoola.

Quite number Of the citizens Of Royalton
Center assembled at the academy hall on the
evening Of the 18th inst, TO listen TO lecture
by W. w. Culver of Royalton. The subject
OF the lecture was one Of universal interest,
namely, education. The lecturer commenced
by saying: "While we as nation are far In
advance Of oil other nations in many re-.
spects, yet in our methods of education we
are really deficient, and that radical change
is necessary as regards our educational sys-
TEN, if we would have it keep pace with the
progressive spirit of the age"
What the generality of our people need is,
not literary education, but a practical edu.
cation, an education which will be of direct
benefit to them. For a young man who in
tends TO pursue regular course Of study,
our present educational system is perhaps as
good as could be desired. But most of our
young men leave school at very early age,
aud can i'll afford to spend what little time
they have for acquiring an education upon
those studies which can be of no possible use
to them. What they want is to acquire the
most practical knowledge in the least time,
and this can only be done by dcvoting the
little time they have for schooling to those
studies which are practical, and which do not
require years Of patient toll and industry be
fore even limited knowledge oil them can
be acquired. II, then, there is any branch
Of science or Of art, which is of direct impor-
lance to our young men, and which at the
same time disciplnes the mind, that branch
ought to be introduced into our schools.
Mr.. Culver maintains that that branch of
study which yields the best results, and
which is of the greatest Importance to our
young men, is drawing. Drawing not only
disciplines the mind trains the hand and eye,
but is Of practical benefit to all, and espe-
cially to the artisan, for it the artisan is ia
milar with even the elements of drawing,
when plan is given him he sees at glance
what is needed, and he does not req uirs the
draughtsman to tell him how everything mast
be done. If, then, it is Of such great impor-
lance to the artisan to understand the ele-
ments OF drawing, ought it not to be made
possible for him to receive such instruction
in our schools. Ought not part of the
time which is now spent upon studies which
are not of practical Importance to be de-.
voted to this most essential study ? The
speaker is perfectly familiar with the prin-
ciples of drawing and is himself an artist Of
more than ordinary attachments. lie has
spent considerable time in visiting the schools
in those states where drawing has been in-
troduced into the public schools, and he finds
that the results are very beneficial. 1t is no
wonder, then, that he should labor to i'm
press upon the people Of Vermont the neces.
sity Of introducing drawing into the public
schools. The lecturer was listened to with
marked attention, and when he closed the
applause which greeted him showed that he
had not boon addressing an inappreciative
audience. FIR.
THE system of drawing is yet on trial in
some states, while in others it has produced
results quite satisfactory. Educational mat
ters in Vermont are hardly ripe enough for
the adoption of this new branch, while the
demand just now for draughtsmcn is far be-
low the supply. 1t may be said of Mr.. Gull
yer that he is not an agent