New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-13
WORK or VACATION SCHOOLS.
AN EXHIBIT SHOWING WHAT EAST SIDE
CHILDREN HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.

AN EXHIBIT SHOWING WHAT EAST SIDE
CHILDREN HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
OF the five hundred summer schools which have
been in session throughout the land I'm the last two
months the most important to the people
of this city the summer vacation schools which.
without pomp circumstance, have been sus-
tanned by the Public School Commission. These
vacation schools held in Of the school
buildings principally those on the East Side. within
reach of the crowded tenement-houses They were
in session for the six weeks between July II and
August 49, At their close exhibition Of the
handiwork of the children arranged. and 10
now open TO the public at the rooms OF the
Board in Grand-st.
II is an exhibit deserving the attention not only
OF teachers but Of all citizens of intelligence. for
ii Includes most Of the new departure ideas OF
education II is not precisely "Oh. N.Y. show;
there is much crudiiy and chldishness in it, and
there Is required a good degree of intelligence 10
appreciate It's scope and TO understand the merits
Of its very defects. Above ALL the work OF a child
must include the child. undeveloped being.
Yet when 1t is remembered that these chid-work-
ers were the tenement house jewellers Of the East
Side, the highest function OF whose infancy mas
been by many supposed be that OF turning .
crank In the dark. somewhere. of the great ehsihs
Of commercial progress. at the earliest age per-
mttei by the laws the wonder is that those small
heads and hands have accomplished these thinss'
The question as to what the free schools ought 70
teach is getting answered afresh to see this ex-
hibt would heip 10 settle II In many MINDS, ana 7"
settle it in favor of this course Of instruction
The exhibit consists OF drawings, some imas1'
nary others from life models; color sketches from
life constructive work In cardboard. woodwork'
sewing and nature work In these empioymeh.s'
10 which much singing and several joyful picnics
were added the schools occupied the chhorehs
time. Besides what IL arranged mere the teae"e.S
say that there were boxes full of specimens equaV
good eft at the schools.
The drawing and color work are most ATTRACTIVE
even good as a finished product. but most in'e'-
estinr as examples Of what unframed children csn
learn TO do in a short time under the inspiration On
life models. Nothing was done from the na'' "oe"
ing copied nothing touched up by teachers' oo'
da shed onto paper with rapidly from pef'S"Ao'o
model Here are some hundreds OF specimens Oh
field flowers leaves and bright-colored vegetaoies-
,,or luies velow daisies radshes sprigs Of clover
f,u NJ axnresson and originality. All this "orA
IL included under dra wing It's purpose not W .Ao
artists but to educate trst the eye anu 'iio" .'o
hand and arm Closely combined with the I'll
was nature study. and this lay very close W 'no
heart OF Superinten Stewart whose enthusiasm
, oarr,ad ,bess summer schools to so successfui
an issue TIL. Board arranged 10 have stated sup
niles sent from the country TO every schoo' 80
we're spravs from native trees. sneI's' coi"' 49,"
field flowers and much besides was Drought III =.
devoted teachers. For after all mas 49, -
which a fault-hnding public can say aoou' e"e
doac;.nc,es Of teachers. there is among 'ne'n "
host Of devoted women and men whose interest ~
the development OF the children Cannon V" '
described . Ill .nudreu
4, hard brush colors and flower 10
-, uou sure they 10 want 70 COME W
norrow' to get another. II Is pity ootn 'hes a"N
their parents cannot be seen waiHhs a''N
halls where their work is displayed
Nature stu.y was carried OUTSIDE Oh ua"s
- oo,oring nv certain schools II was mace
TO prea
shoots OF trees or buttercups' 10 mount '"e"
rds % model them In clay. 10 listen 70 s'o'ie'
ord mems sbou. them. to write about then-'
are half dozen ways In which the Ire HUN '''
fields was made educate the chiiu'
otner schools have made fine exhibit OF con-
e,ruct,ve work Panels are covered with ingenious
,h-,.o,,ons of cardboard wall-pockets. matcn-
,oxe. and baskets One class presents peau'iiu'
nockets and portemonnaies In wnicn the car" 10
covered with leather. The wood"orh OF INC 80,
work limited TO what can he done Win n
mood nnon thin board Is full of ingenuity In tnese
classes the boys are all wild 10 be mechahics' nu'
here again II ia not the finished proauc' WIZ"
r,us, ha Judged That may be OF little accoup'
a, the foundation Of the large scheme OF eouod'o'
which includes manual training, as IL Is no" AZ
cluded in a. the schools Of Manhattan ana ih'
The sewing exhibit hlls most beautifully COM n-
mitee-room. This exhibit is more nKeS he said IL
these girls further they can anorn car 20 81
on what they nave learned mere al, nc 49, ~,
grades make show from the nrst steps IN f tsr
hing 70 the dressing of beautiful doll Inese .sn
perfect hting and finish OF snowy garments, uass
hemstitching and perfect gathers Upon net JAZZ
zach doll bears in writing the name ana age d, I've
little worker one school expressed sne s. Soumbia
Liberty America is gorgeous rome OF 'eu, rss.S
and blue satin ribbon The Writer heaio b. 70 nre
an ardent wish that these Deaules nhs"' VIC Wv
sented TO the kndergartens y.,. ,.v>
In all this work the schools or New-fotk nasc
fa rrO
that the vacation schools viii have oenenciaI "
huence upon the regular schools, Tor this interss.
etc is to be fitted into the other business OF 'he
school though Gust any vital part OK H.
But II some OF the years OF ariI h Sn,aaccaiiv
applied 10 the work In wood and iron. Angles pc
Kin to mean something. Rcadng ana writing no
longer ends in themselves nesn 10 DC oos NO
ture. The mind is not neglected II arlthmeucr or
geography cut down 10 let IN sewing Inc
departure" begs leave 10 reach II tnroush 'ne
muscles through the ear and the eye. Drawing SO
long included in the public school course mas NOT
nat the ted,um OF initiating designs with straight
lines and curves whose perfection could never be
reached have both their day. and from schoois
teach IL TO the young II the old systems have not
heen actually abandoned. their knel Is rung Draw
ing is not work win the penG or expresses itself
in form II is included in the work or smith VINO
draws the horseshoe he is making out or IRON; or
the stonecutter OF the draughtsman ana or the ar
list In the sewing school the patterns are
draughted in the workshop also ~ a..
Learning by doing Is the watchwor9 OF INC
feet in our pubic schools. and that doing Is 10 pc
for the benent OF the individual and not merely
skilled workman Let US educate him 10 skill. but
not prescribe what he shall do with IT,