The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-06-10
NEW HAVEN MORNING COURIER FRIDAY. JUNE
PUBLIC SCHOOL EXHIBIT
FINE DISPLAY OF DRAWING AND
WATER CoLORS.

Specimens of Charcoal Slsetching, Origi-
nal Composition and Posters Formal
Opening Last Night at Young Mems
Republican Club HalI-Many Visitors
From Ont of the City Present-Others
Expected,
The exhibition OF the drawing of the
New Haven public schools at the
Young Mems Republican club hall is
exceedingly fine. The exhibition is I'M
der the charge of the Women's School
association, whose efforts in behalf of
the public schools are worthy of much
praise. They have taken great pains
that the exhibition shall be represen-
tative one and they have been success
full.
The drawing taught in the New
Haven schools covers a great scope,
embracing all kinds from objective
copying to original composition and de-
signing. When 1t is considered how
little time is given to this kind of work
in the school, that which has been ac-
complished is little short of wonderful.
In the lower grades only an hour and
quarter week is allowed for draw
ing. This is reduced to an hour in the
higher grades and to forty-flve minutes
in the high school. The work not only
shows that the children of New Haven
have an excellent appreciation of the
beautiful and quite an amount of abil-
ity, but 1t also testifies to the efficient
work of the instructors. 1t is no ex-
aggeration to claim that the drawing in
the New Haven schools Is unsurpassed
by any in the country. Miss Skinner
with her corps of assistants, Miss Mad
Ter, Miss Philips in Hillhouse. Miss
Wright in Boardman and Miss Gladwin
in the night school are certainly doing
good work.
The system of instruction employed
aims to give to the student in his first
year some idea of the most general
principles of the art. 1t is desired first
to interest the child in his work and to
do this he is required to draw what
ever is of special interest to him at the
time in the way he sees it. In every
grade the drawing Is connected as
much as possible with whatever is be-
ing studied at the time. The child is
taught that drawing Is only another
way Of expressing what it sees and
knows.
Each kind of drawing has separate
alcove in which the work done is ar
ranged Systematically. beginning with
the first year and going through the
high school. Thus 1t is possible to gee
what progress has been made from
year to year.
To the left as one enters the hall Is
the object drawing. In this work in
the first years the children copy blocks
Of wood of rectangular. cylindrical and
curved shapes. Later they copy objects
having these general shapes and also
draw from memory. In this group Is
an excellent drawing from memory of a
view down Chapel street. The work OF
the Hillhouse pupils in charcoal and
water colors is very good. The attempt
in the charcoal drawings to suggest
color Is we'll done and is quite success
full.
The next alcove contains the draw
iiiS HUH lIlEtA ltlCluQlHS tilf primary
illustration of animal life. In this
work it is aimed to present only the
general curves and outlines. More at
tention is paid to the natural poses and
attitudes. The children are permitted
to omit the features and the smaller
details. The annual drawing Is a new
venture this year. but the results have
justified the innovation.
The next department Is drawing from
nature. 1t is surprising to note how
quickly and naturally the children take
to this. The work here does not show
so much development throughout the
course. The work in the higher grades
does not equal that of the other kinds
of drawing, but In the lower grades 1t
is much better. The children seem to
get better idea of what they want to
represent. Nature coloring is also q
new departure of recent years which
has been severely criticized at times
But close observation Of the exhibit
will show that the students quickly de-
yelop taste in the use and selection OF
colors which is exceedingly good
The work in composition Is also of a
high character. In this part 1t is aim
ed to give correct idea of space in
nature, together with correct COM
bination of colors. In this department
the composition of posters has aroused
the interest of the boys of Boardman
and they have made q number of very
good posters.
The Industrial sketching is also good
showing evidence of skill and thought
In every case a model Of the drawing
has been made, but are not on exhibit
The work of the night school is at
tracing much attention and justly SO
1t has been done for the most part by
full grown men and women, who have
begun the work this year with no prep
aration. In many cases they began IL
unwillingly, but before the close of the
year were very much interested. Their
work shows an unexpected skill and
represents an increased enjoyment and
pleasure in life. 1t would be sad in
deed if this study should have to be
discontinued because of the expense
as it is feared will be the case. The
value of the work is out OF all proper
ton to the expense, even though the
latter is great. This work is in
charge of Miss Gladwin.
During the day there were quite a
number of visitors from out of the
city, two coming from Minneapolis
to fhok