The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-02-23
ART IN THE SCHOOL.
WOMENS CLUB AND CITY TEACHERS
BEGIN A GREAT WORK.
WILL DECORATE SCHOOL ROOMS
MRS. James B. Estee, of the Milwaukee
womans Club, Addresses the Teachers
on the Subject and Rouses Interest
in Mural Decoration.

The regular meeting of the city
teachers at the central building this
morning was one of more than usua
interest and from it sprung a move
ment which promises to be of a great
benefit to the educational interests oil
the city. For some time art has been
studied in Kenosha schools from a
theoretical standpoint and this morning
movement was started which will
bring this fascinating ard instructive
study on more practical grounds
Mural decoration of the school rooms
in Kenosha have been discussed for
some time without result, but the
movement started this morning promi-
ses to result in success in the near
future.
The teachers have long recognized
the refining influence of proper decora-
lions of the school rooms and in this
they have been ably assisted by sthe
members Of the Kenosha WOman's
club. One of the most interesting
on mural decoration of school rooms
and buildings by Mrs. James B. Estee
of the Art Union of Milwaukee. Mrs
Estee's address was very interesting
and showed the refining influence of
bringing up the children in an atmOs-
phere which should mould their lives
in as good manner as possible. She
spoke at length on the work that had
been done in the east in the way OF
artistic decoration of the school build
ing and how it has affected the charac-
ters and disposition of the children
themselves. The scheme as presented
by Mrs. Estee is to teach the
children art by having them con-
stantly in company with it. To color
the school rooms in artistic tints, to
hang them with copies of masterpieces
of painting and if possible to place in
the rooms reproductions of the great
works of the sculptor. The work in
Milwaukee, under the partial super
vision of the speaker, had proved a
great success, and already many of the
rooms had been decorated and more
of the work was being done as money
could be secured. Mrs. Estee said that
the child spent fully one half his time
in the school room and therefore che
school must be the most potent factor
in bringing about any intellectual and
or+io+;o rofipopooOt
Mrs. Kimball, President of the
Woman's club, was also present at the
meeting, and made few remarks, in
which she stated that the club would
certainly be willing to take an import
ant part in such a meritOrious move
ment, and urged that if the schools
could be decorated they should be
decorated with the best that art affords.
Mrs. o. S. Newell, in few words,
spoke of the effect of pictures and their
refining influence in the home and gave
her hearty support to the movement
which would introduce these influences
into the public schools.
Mrs. E. G.. Theirs, Miss Yule and
Miss Stewart also spoke in favor of the
movement and at the close committee
consisting of Mesdames ]. FL. Kimball
O. S. Newell and E. G. Theirs, of the
Woman's club, and Mrs. Miller anC
Misses Yule and Rowe, OF the teachers
. was appointed to confer with the Boarc
of Education, as to the means by which
the plans suggested at the meeting may
be carried out.
The real difficulty is to secure money
with which to complete the work anc
for this purpose an entertainment viii
be given in the near future.
Miss Kintz, representative o
GUN & Co., was also present and ad
dressed the teachers on the subject o
methods in teaching drawing.