The record-union., 1891-10-01

the individual developments of art'
should be taught in all schools, is now no
longer denied. But, save here and there, it
emily or mechanically. The principles of
light and shade are little considered, and
the pupil is at best put to the drudgery of
copying, with small conception of the
possibilities of free-hand work and the
avenue that it opens up to new ideas of
human expression.
That every teacher of child ought to
be able to instruct it-or at least some
teacher in the child's course of disci
pline-in the elemental principles of de-
signing, is undeniable, because while
such instruction cultivates a correct taste,
1t also trains the hand and the eye in
method of expression now absolutely es-
sential in fair education.
For this reason, when community has
the opportunity to build and maintain
schools of design, and embraces it, it
confers inestimable benefits upon itself
Teachers ought to be trained in such
schools, or under competent masters,
that they may in turn instruct the chill
dren in the schools in the principles of
proportion, perspective, and the laws of
light and shade. For the youth capable
of using the art form of expression finds
1t Of use in whatever vocation in life he
enters. In nearly all branches Of me-
chanics fair knowledge of designing is
wonderful helper, and greatly augments
the capacity of the worker. If he have
artistic tastes, it is means to their de-
velopment, and thus broadens his appre-
citation. In profession, trade or business
that which is learned in the drawing
school where free-hand work is the rule
is of infinite benefit-a truth undeniable.
This community, for these and similar
reasons, ought to encourage by all legiti-
mate means the School Of Design carried
on practically as city institution. In
deed, every teacher in the city should
be stimulated to avail of it, the bet
ter to fit him or her for like work in
the public schools. But the school, which
is here a public trust, now that it has
proved its value by several years of exist
ence and the demonstration of high char
acter, ought to have more generous sup
port than it is receiving. 1t has largely
been maintained through philanthropic
effort, but that in time must be with
drawn and the time cannot be distant.
There are a hundred or more youths in
Sacramento who ought to have their ma
tive abilities developed in such school,
and where the home institution is the
equal of any in other California cities,
it should, of course, have the preference.
The RECoRD-UNIoN has, from time to
time, lent its aid to encouragement of
this and similar institutions, and to slim
ulation of such work as has been done in
designing in the public schools also, and
it has seen the good results of such effort.
1t seems to it now that the chief agency
in the city to development of art tastes,
and instruction of our youth in design
ing, ought to have better support and the
promoters of it should receive greater en-
couragement. The San Francisco School
Of Design, according to the Bulletin, has
given results entirely satisfactory, and is
looked upon there as an agency Of high
value in the educational scheme The
Sacramento school is not second to it in
essential capacity, and its relation to this
community ought to be as intimate and
of as great value as is the school in San
Francisco to the people of that city. The
opening of the winter season of the insti-
tuition here suggests the thought that this
agency for good should receive more at
tention from our people and be given
greater encouragement than it is receiv-
ing.