The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-13

DR.. Gros1mann's Lecture at st. Andrews
Parish House.


Parish House.
yor croszn-ann's lecture at 81. Andrew
Parish House yesterday Afternoon v.,
art Culture in the Elementary Scho9l1,
was highly instructive. deeper l,sisn'
inlo child psychology sald Ut. HIosI
mann. has revealed the true function oil
art Education 49,. ,t,,,,,s,
genius Of the race. IhrouGh arr 4ioi ~
sb 4 10 understand the DIVINE. IT o. lHf
freeing element i'm all culture. ATT cor
respOnds 20 literature ana poetry AZ i7
a means of seif-eXpression. ART ltnsdase
is equally II not more pOWeuui IMAM thi
sDoken or printed word. Art existed long
before hooks. lie who can read a chi.d
mud pies and scribbhng VIII get deegef
insight into his real nature, tnGn ne "hf
waits unul the child can tell or write or.
for him what he mas lh mlhh. ihS ~
instinct he a relic OF The history or the
race From chudrens drawings We get
q clearer and more comprehensive ac-
count OF their concept than iTOm theif
words. Drawing Is the general language
True art is moro than mere mechani-
cal reproduction OF the objects or nature
II represents the individual attitude NJ the
artist towards nature and ire ~ inc
same way as literature does.
"EducaliOn must. therefore. be based
upon The natural desire OF the child TO
express an individual thought or feeling
and not upon mechanical eNerc. sos. "a
SO snort, we should bend all our energies
upon inspiring their youthful soul with
true interest IN, and love Tor the beauii-
fCi. Art work should. therefore. be co..
ordInated with al. those occupations and
interests In which the children take their
most spontaneous and deepest delight
Their interest centcrs ~ action, IN motion
rather than reD0se.
we must not Judge or measure child
work by an adult standard. Therefore
rather than insist upon nice and exact
finishing. which consumes time. spOils the
child interest and rObs 10 OF the OPP
portunity TO try his hand on q variety Of
SUBJECTS. let Us encourage him 90 hcgir
over and over again. and be otherwise
satisfied with crude execution. TO learn
how 10 begin right is the secret OF future
success. Let az not he deceived by tho
fanatics Of sO-callcd "thOrOughncss'
which results mostly ln unruitful me
c,lamcal drill And we must not judge Of
the child's form Of expression from the
standpoint OF the adult. Children see
with the eyes Of childrer-or rather Will
the unframed and inexperienced mind or
cnidIen. Inc fcry nature OF art express
sion 81 symboicai. IL is necessary 10 in-
teFpiet pictures as We Interpret the I'M
ages oI real things on our rC-lna, By what
We STE with our inner csc.
LIZ US, tn-n, olten respect the child's
Individual form OF express ion. even IL it
may be difficult Tor us 10 understand f.
the deeper reason for this Us that the
form IN which the artistic idea expresses
useif is natural growth from crude be-
einn nrs 10 the present STAKE OF ar1atcr
perfection. The various stages through
which the race has passed In art ex-
ricsaiOn ar. relieved in the development
II each individual child. in the art OF
young children We see the arr Of the
savage. The speaker gave here an acc
count. with illustrations, Of intert stine
experiu' MS he has undertaken 40 ii mon
strate IN 5 fact. The same biological INV
ffrlf iffr ~
human mind lr the race arc 81 % at work
In the evolution Of the child MIND
IN suggesting a course iu art work Or.
Groszman gave the following exercise:
I. Conceptioral drawings-that Is. draw
ings from memory.
2. Object drawing.
8. lima ginative drawing-that Is Illus
trat'on ana composition.
4. Decorative work
As 10 material ne gives clay work The
first place. then comes paper cutting to-
gether with various work In carving
weaving and the Ike. Drawing and
painting he considers 20 be the most dr.
cut Kind Of art work
Ire also advised "a STUDY OF the great
rnasterp' Gees Of art for the sake OF in
~ 4aa u. he history of arr IS the his
tory OF ideals.
Speaking OF the pupils own work, DR..
Groszman pl was for freedom and
individuality. The aim must nc not "a
snowy piece of work, out thr lection
of the child. All. 10 be a moral influence
must make for truth; 4 .1ist DC an eX-
prf ssion OF genuine thOu ghts lrd feel
ngs. not conventional CT mechanical
thing.
The lectures next week will be deliv-
cred at , +. NJ.
The subject on Monday viii be Ethics
Of Child study" for Tuesday "Dev lop-
nocnt Oh Criminallty in q Chud;" Nclnee-
day. Dignity and Responsibility Of the
Teacher" -.
There was n good audience al CUT
va,e9 neonle al the .etture yesie day ar
ernoon. Dr. Grosznian - man OF dis
.'ncuisfeh ability and lectures % 2 clear,
lorical way, with Cultivated, pi' csns