The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-07-22
DRAWING IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.
Remarka able Progress Made by the
Pupils i'm Six Months.

ing in the Government schools has
been eminently successful. A repre-
sentative of the ADVERTISER yester-
day had the privilege of accompany
ing the gentlemen who judged the
work of the pupils in the Royal and
Fort-street schools, for the purpose Of
awarding prizes of merit, which have
been provided by Mr.. Smith, Super
intendent of Public Works, and
Major Bender, G. E., as an encour-
agement and Indictment to future
excellence. The progress made in so
short time is very satisfactory.
The classes in the Royal school, of
which the Rev. Alexander Mackin-
tosh is Principal, have only been
studying drawing for six months, but
the work done by some of the native
and Portuguese boys would not do
discredit to more experienced pupils.
And furthermore, the drawing is of
general average merit, so much so,
that in more than one instance the
judges, themselves gentlemen emin-
emily well qualified for the task, had
some difficulty in arriving at a de-
cisiOn. The King will be compli-
mented by several likenesses drawn
by the boys. Two very we'll drawn
maps were also in competition.
At the FOrt-street school the pupils
have had the advantage Of little
longer training, and their work bears
witness of it, and of faithful instruc-
ton by their teacher. Professor
Scott, the Principal, speaks in the
highest terms of the influence of Mrs.
J. D. Strong, the drawing teacher,
over the pupils, old and young.
Among the competitors in the infant
class-for all the children are taught
drawing-One child of seven years
deservedly took prize upon merit,
his work being really something out
of the common for one so young, with
the advantage Of only one lesson a
week for about eight months.
It should be added that Mrs. Strong
teaches drawing in all the Govern
ment schools, and her method GER
tainly seems to work admirably.
She has no difficulty in getting good
and faithful work from native and
white pupils, and they have made
such marked progress under her
tuition and guidance as to fully JUS
tify the continuance of drawing as a
part of the regular course in the Gov
eminent schools. The pupils appear
to possess strong artistic taste, and
they should be encouraged and aided
to develop it fully.
The method adopted by Mrs. J. D.
Strong in teaching is in accord with
the ripe experience of countries in
which art has attained to special ex-
cellence. The great art centers of the
world are Munich, Paris and Rome,
and although the work produced by
the three schools are entirely differ
ent in style, technique and character,
the students are put through exactly
the same routine of study. The first
six months are devoted to copying
from fiat studies, that the pupils may
learn to use their crayOns with
facility; the next half-year is given
to drawing from casts from the an
tique; and then, but not till then, the
embryo artists are allowed to draw
from life.
The human face and ensemble is all
that is taught in any OF the Munich,
Doris or
landscapes or animal drawing is
thought of except during the holiday
summer months. 1t is argued that
if, in drawing tree, the main branch
is put an inch out of the line it would
make no great difference in the gen
eral effect, but in the drawing of a
face the fraction of an inch out
changes the whole expression. Head
and figure drawing consequently
makes the student precise and cor
rect, and any one who can draw a
perfect likeness of man, without the
aid of Photographic tricks, or enlarg-
ing by means of mathematical
squares, but honestly and sincerely
from life, is able to draw anything in
nature.
Mrs. Strong, who was a student of
Julien's atelier DIES DANES Paris, under
the famous painter Robert Tony
Fleury, is putting her pupils through
the same severe classic training that
was taught in that studio. The chill
dren who have been taking lessons
six months have gone through the
preliminary course of copying from
fat studies, which were selected for
the Government schools by Mr.. Virgil
Williams, Director of the California
School of Design, gentleman we'll
qualified to choose the most fitting
subjects for such course of instrue-
ton.
Those interested in art and edu-
work should certainly make