The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-26
the statements hitherto made were not

is not being investigated but that the
| question is concerning the supervisors.
| | understand that there is not now the
water color work that there was under
| Miss Skinner" (The predecessor of Mr..
Burnham as supervisor of drawing)
| Mr.. F'oX-"Teachers have told me
| that there was more water color work
| now than before and others say that
| there is just as much. Teachers told
| me that Mr.. Moran misstated the facts
The fact is that no order has gone
forth from Mr.. Kendall to stop water
color work.
Mr. Chase-"Do you understand that
the committee is investigating the ad-
visibility of water color work? It is
not proper to dispute what Mr.. Moran
has said. Does that establish any fact?'
Mr.. Fox-"That is a legitimate part
of the question. / wish to discuss wa
ter colors as part of drawing"
Mr.. Chase-"Why don't you desire to
have it taught?"
Mr. FoX-"Because 1t violates all the
principles of art as taught in the art
school, A professor in the Yale Art
school told me-
Mr.. Chase-"I don't want to hear
what he said"
Mr.. Fox-"He said that when a stu
dent goes to the art school they have
him work two years at pencil work be-
fore they teach him colors. In the
schools of the city they use coloTs in
the first and second grades and teachers
tell me that Mr.. Burnham said he pre-
ferred colored pencils to black. Teach
orc hot 1ar Of 11a
work is simply dawdling and that all
the school drawing is waste of time.
1t is simply a question of the survival
of the fittest study to make these chill
dren good citizens and help to fit them
to earn their own Iivings.. 1t has been
said that color work is used in dry
goods stores. Go to Malley's and see
how much good it is in selling goods.
1t is true some designing is necessary,
but you find that some of the most
successful workmen in print factories
know nothing about color work. A
large amount of money and time is
spent on this color work here and |
think that it ought to be put out of
the schools at once My doctrine Is
that until the children Of the fifth, sixth
and seventh grades can read and cipher
well and are familiar with the history
and geography of their own country
they should not be bothered with
drawing and color work. + understand
that there are one hundred teachers in
the city schools who are better able to
teach penmanship than is the super
visor of that branch"
Mr.. Fox suggested that if it was de-
sired to teach drawing i'm the schools 1t
should be optional with parents whether
or not their children should take it.
Mr.. Chase-"If it. was optional with
them do you think that the teachers
would put more work on themselves or
take it off ?"
II think that the teachers of this city
are a conscientious hard working, hon
est body"
More so than any other class of
people?''
Il don't wish to answer silly ques-
tions sir. think that they are more
SO than loafers on the streets"
Suppose I had talked with twenty |
teachers and they wanted to drop these
frills and fads and I asked why and |
they said they We're overworked what |
would you think?"
'T should say it was a good reason" |
Having been interrupted frequently |
by Mr.. Chase of the committee, Mr.. |
Fox took OCCASION to say: II have no
ticed that you didn't bear down so hard
On Mr.. Moran and Mr.. Kendall as you
have on me. If / had not so noticed I |
would not say that there was lack |
If power of examination in the commit |
.ee"
Mr.. Fox's half hour being up, he said
hat he as taxpayer for twenty years
would like to be heard further. Mr..
Chase said that for the benefit of him
self he would like to have Mr.. Fox
appear again and answer questions
hat he would ask. AS he was leaving
he stand Mr.. Fox said that he would
Mr.. Kendall to discuss with
him before the public at any time the
natter under investigation.
Mr.. Dewell had the floor next but de-
erred to Maier Zunder, an ex-member
sf the board 'of education, who was
,bliged to leave soon. Mr.. Zunder said
hat he took deep interest in educa-
ional matters in this country and in
europe. He had no axes to grind. He
hought that the schools of New Haven
we're second to none in this country or
n Europe. The schools of to-day were
much in advance of those of forty !
ears ago and he thought that more
nd more of what some called frills
we're wanted in the school system. He
aid: 1--WE can't get along now with !
eaching the three RS. What fogies call
rills of the schools are now the neces- Y
tiles, music, penmanship, drawing,
ewing etc. Ninety per cent. of the
eachers in the public schools here
ONE from New Haven and from thirty
o fifty young teachers must be hired
ach year and they are not all valedic-
orians. They must have help from
trong teachers like Miss Reynolds We t
ave strong teachers, but they are Ii
lade so by the so-called supervisors. -.
We have an excellent board of educa-
ion, a superintendent of great ability
tho is master in his way. There is a :
erman saying, Let the shoemaker
tick to his last 1 don't apply this
aging to the committee. but to some
{ your critics. The schools are good 9
nd ought not to be disturbed by ev- {
ry crank !
When Mr. Zunder had closed after
If. %.,G