Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-10

I ptTHIBdtIuI UfOaQ Atneflran HE.
with all its possibilities, We have to note that
much Of our future veal or woe centers about
the profitable employment of the industrial
classes. Already they hold no small share
| OF political power and it IS In the nature
| OF things that their numbers should greatly
increase At present they are suffering from
broad competition on the one hand, and labor
| saving machinery on the other, and between
| TINS upper and neither milestone, they are ant
| upon government as their oppressors. These
| are facts which educators. economists and
statesmen cannot afford to ignore. The country
wants and the tastes of older civilizations and
now having provided for the education OF the
professional man, it is time for us to recognize
that the day OF the mechanic has come al last
and come to stop.
INDUSTRIAL DRAWING.
In reference to Industrial ORA wing the Sec
ond part or his subject Prof Smith says:-The
Term Is used TO distinguish it from ali fancifu
or ornamental education coming under the
name OF drawing. 1t has been introduced into
eiie scIlools OF Massachusetts, because, as the
CHAIRMAN c OF the drawing committee in Boston,
MI thaS. Z. Perkins, SayS:-.'At least three
quarters or the children in our public schools
are destined to get their living in Industries
when demand knowledge OF drawing. 1t has
gearing upon the manufacturing interests of
the community. and these can only be vivlfied
oy the cultivation OF public taste As material
gain this question of uniting art and industry is
now looked upon all the world over as para
mount" French commission appointed to
examine matters pertaining to industrial sue
"Am0ng all the branches of instruction which
In different degrees, from the highest to the
lowest grade. can contribute TO the technical
education OF either sex, dfGclag Ia all its forms
ant applications has been unanimously fegdrIed
as the one it is 'aost important to make contD,on"
The French commission of 1876 gave the opinion
that "Ffance ought TO devote herself to The
study OF drawing and reinvigorate her produce
live powers at the very source OF art" 1t is
noW generally regarded as essentially educa-
uonal, taught as it now is, as a Workthing. not
as d play thing. Let it be stated that without a
knowledge OF drawing. skilled labor is imposs'-
| ble and il we remember that what this country
stands most In need Of to-day, is skilled Labor
argument on behalf OF drawing is unnecessary
To make it both proficient and popular, it must
be taught by the regular teachers in the public
schools. in every grade OF them to all pupils
/ This involves the previous instruction OF those
teachers, and by this action the cost OF intro
duclng the subject into the scheme OF inStruc-
t10H Is reduced 10 2 minimum. We know his
to be practicable, because ii has already been
done in Boston. and III a large number of the
! most important cities in the United States
That the public is interested in the matter is
also unqueStiOned. Al the last pubic exhibit
ton OF The drawings made III all the public
schools OF Boston. more than thirty thousand
persons attended the exhibition in three day,
ny actual count AT the doors. The regular teach
erS Of the public schools there are now teaching
drawing more Systematically than il is being
taught in all grades OF schools in any EDTOupan
country, and are, moreover, producing more
Originality ara executive power la their pupils
Judging from the experience OF other C6un-
li1tS, Wei DIS tie result OF what mas ulfp1dE
| been done III this. the following plan is the
most economical and successful method b.
winch technical education may be promoted In
this country:
/. That industrial drawing should be taught
in the public day schools DIS an elementary mart
OF general education; and that industrial draw
ing and modelling be taught in free evening
classes TO persons OF both sexes. who are not in
attendance at day schools To become general
this should be accomplished by an act OF the
legislature OF each state.
=. That a state normal art school fnr TIM
training OF teachers and designers. be estab-
Shed in each capital city Or other Convenient
center, in connection with an industrial mu-
scum and art gallery.
;. That the teachers OF drawing in normal
schools, evening drawing classes or schools OF
art, De required to possess the certificate OF
qualification TO act as teachers. awarded up0n
examination by The state normal art schools.
/; Ihat the national gov eminent establish. or
assist in tde establishment OF great technical
school OF industrial art at Washington
toncefnlng these proposals. he had only time
10 soy that they are not mere theories to meet
an imaginary evil, but have all been Success
lniy carried out In other countries and have
met with success in correcting great national
DEFICIENCIES. 1t may be objected that there are
not IN The country SUFFICIENT works of arr to nil
museums and galleries. but to this he would
reply that for very little money reprodu0-
I3ns OF the the sn nest works IN the British
Inc Louvre and other great national col
lectl0ns. can be obtained. and are as good
Ior tie purposes OF instruction as the originals
iI'Idtn tiiiS. tuplh IOCIltS DI museum and
me pare walls OF picture gallery have an at
tractNeness and c0heSivenesS about them, for
works or art In the possession OF private per-
sons, mat Is simply Irresistible. The laws OF
graVltati0n applied to choice works OF art takes
them in straight line into public galleries.
Wneh such galleries exist. The proposal to es-
taGllSh normal art schools is not so Formidable
as II may at first sight appear. They may form
part OF one central art school. which every
state ought TO have, but it shodid be recognized
that we cannon get the most efficient teachers
without normal training whatever NAV he the
manual Skill OF the ART students who Offer them
selves as teachers
i CENTRAL SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL ART AT WASH
INGToN.
Concerning tie proposal 70 establish central |
school or industrial art III Washington one de- |
p pau OF which might be for Instruction in |
line art exclusively, this appeared TO him To be !
essential as an example for the whole country |
and IN order that the treasure houses OF mate |
rial now existing here for such purpose may
be utilized and made fruitful. It may be ne |
ceSSaly fof the protection OF this nation that !
the sword be kept bright at West Point, but 1t |
would cOnduce as much TO It's greatness and It's |
glory II the plOughShare and the Instruments |
ington.
In conclusion he urged with emphasis that |!
as educators and political economists we must |
look out for the interests OF the Industrial |
:iasses more than has hitherto been done. In |
me connict that is imminent between aggre- |
gated capital On the one hand and ignorant I'M |
skilled labor on the other turks the greatest dan
ger TO our whole social and political organism |
lt is the province Of public education to Inlt- |
cate, il not entirely remove. these dangers In |
view, therefore. OF these vast annual expendi- |
lures for public instruction he gave warning |
against Ignoring the interests OF The industrial
c .l In education. To the public schools |
they should be taught TO look as the very bul- |
Wark or their salvation; whilst to the state |
these schools should be what entertainments |
IRE 10 the Dutch, or its fleet is to the English
people. A miserable 3 X education is neither |
he one nor the other in this half OF the 10Th |
century,
The Drainage and Sewerage Ques-
ton.
Editor star: - Permit Inc to say TO your
readers that your reporter has through your
iSSue OF the Sth inst, grossly miSrepreSented
my action before the House committee on that
day as follows:
:. Mr.. b. F Severson wanted his plan submit
ted to a board OF engineers for their inspection
and report, and thought he should be paid
$1,000 for 1t, as it was the labor OF life time
He has even misrepresented my name. did
not present plan On that day, nor did / in any