The morning call., 1893-04-02
A DRAWING STORM.
The Girls High School
AIumn9 Aroused.
Superintendent Swett's Vigorous Pro-
test to the Board of Education
in Favor of Culture.

Inc sudden exclsion from the course of
study in the Girls High Schoolof freehand
drawing by the Board of Education, not
withstanding the earnest remon STRANGE of
School Superintendent John SWEET, has
awakened the deepest resentment of the
parents Of the 800 or more girls who attend
that Institution.
The teachers are also angry over the
change, but they cOnfne their mUtteriEgs
of discomfort to themselves. as their POSI-
tions might be endangered by any indul-
gence in public of their views.
The parents, however, are not afraid to
speak out. and many have spoken in very
severe terms OF the action of the School
Directors.
Another large class are also giving vent
to their indignation. These are the gradu-
ates OF the San Francisco Girls High
School, of whom there are over 1000 resld-
Ing in the city. These ladies have a society
called the Girls High School Aumna, anG
the members are talking OF holding a meet
ing to give expression to their feelings.
Besides this, the girls themselves are
taking an active hand in the fight, and all
the signs point to a lively time at the next
meeting of the Board Of Education.
1t seems some time ago war was declared
against maintaining this branch of study in
the high schools, and the teacher in the
Boys High School was forced to resign.
At the last meeting Of the board President
Hyde originated surprise in the shape of
the following communication. which he
presented TO his fellow-members:
BAN FRANCISCO, March 20, 1898.
To the Honorable Board of Educdtion-GEN-
TLEMEN: You have adopted the report of The
Classification Committee, abolishing the teaching
OF drawing in the Boys High School of this city
! call your attention 10 The fact that the teaching
of drawing in the Girls High School ia costing
this department S155 per month paid to the
q and mi tttna fpr
that there is no more necessity for that branch
of instruction IN the Girls High School than 10
the Boys, and no distinction should be made
between the schools. / do not regard II as GOOD
policy to introduce or continue study in THIS
department which cannot be thoroughly taught
we nave Commercial High School In which
thorough instruction in drawing Is given. The
small amount OF instruction that can be given
by one person to 300 scholars Is of 10 practical
benefit TO the pupil, but is an expense 10 The de
paTtment which ought TO be saved. The draw
Ing Is now taught by Franz NJ. Goldstein, who Is
employed entirely IN the High School, except on
Friday foreHoonI which is devoted 10 some gram
mar school,
l recommend that the position be declared
vacant and that Mr.. GOldStens services be
dispensed with. +. A. HYDE President
Immediately after the reading of the pres
dents report Superintendent SWEET was on
his feet to eXclaim in his most vigorous
fashion against what lie conceived TO be a
great wrong. He argued that there was no
parallel between the Girls aud tile Boys
High School in the methods of teaching and
in the objects accomplished by the instruc-
ton given in drawing
In the Boys High School he said the pu-
pills had been instructed in mechanical
drawing only, which was not one of the
essentials in high school course, which In
q certain degree, was preparation for en-
tering the university. II did not refine the
taste, educate the eve, cultivate the obsery-
Ing power and enrich the understanding as
did fIeehand drawing which in the Girls
High School was taught by most accom-
plished instructor and artist.
Mechanical drawing, he added, did not
enter into general culture. A few only of
the BOYS were taking it. The work in me-
chanical drawing was limited in its scope
and character. Only two days in the week
had been devoted to ii.
On the other hand, Mr.. SWEET expostu-
lated. the course of freehand drawing in the
Girls High School was taken by hundreds.
1t was an optional study and its popularity
was attested by the number who had Yolun-
tarily sought its refining inspiration. Free
hand drawing went a long way toward
touching up the education Of girl. 1t was
elevatlng and fruitful and good for the
home and society. In the Girls High
School the entire service of one talented
man was needed and, therefore, he claimed,
the president OF the board had utterly failed
In his attempted parallel.
Superintendent SWEET added that IL he
were to c0ncede this branch of instruction
should be abolished, he would like to ask
the board whether the proposed action was
not little hRsty as we'll as an uujusufiable
surprise to the man who would thus sud-
denly find himself dismissed. Mr.. Gold
stein, the teacher of drawing in the Girls
High School, he said, had faithfully dis
charged his duties. He had labored assidu-
ously for six years. He stood well in the
department. He was master of his
art. lie was appreciated by all the
teachers and he enjoyed the esteem of all
the pupils. To summarily remove such an
educator was an outrage, to say nothing of
the cruelty in turning loose, without ade-
Quate cause. hard-w0rking man who had a
vile and seven little children dependent
upon him for support.
Another element of injustice, If not of
outrage, the veteran Superintendent pre-
sented. He asked If the girls who had be-
gun the course in drawing had no claims
upon the consideration of the School
Directors. Had they not the right to be
allowed TO finish the course In drawing? If
the board was in earnest in this mistaken
policy they were bound by all moral con-
sideratlons, in his opinion, not to cut off the
study until the end Of the term.
10 reply to Mr.. SWEETS vigorous protest
President Hyde left the chair. But the
only argument he made was to repeat the
matter embodied in his report.
Director Burke offered the motion under
which the recommendation of the presi-
dent was adopted by the following vote:
Ayes-Ames, Burke, Culver, Dowlinz,
Dutton, French and Hyde; noes-CIin ton
and RoSewald; absent-Carew. Decker and
Dunn.
Directors Decker and Dunn were absent
on account of sickness.
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