Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-12-22
PICTUREsIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
In Both City and Country-First In
trOduced by two MOrgant0wn Ladies.

Prof. A. l.. Wade who was principal
of the public schools of Morgantown
early in the seventies, and who was
afterwards for several years, superin-
tendent of the schools of Monongalia
fine pictures at the school bull ding
the past week Will improve the pubic
taste. He says that this exhibition
has produced genuine art revival in
this community, and that city super
intendent w. FL. Gallup deserves high
praise for securing the loan of this
large collection Of great pictures.
Mr.. Wade further says that this
interest in pictures reminds him of an
art revival which occurred in the coun-
try schools of Monongalia county
when he was superintendent more
than twenty years ago. The story of
this artrevival is told by Superintend-
ent Wade in his annual report for
1879, from which we are permitted to
quote. Under the heading.
oRNAMENTATIoN OF THE SCHOOL
ROOM.
Superintendent Wades report says:
ga couple of cultured women en-
plOyed as teachers in cur county,
Miss Martha Brock and Mrs. Eva
Hubbard " had previous to the last
year introduced pictures into their
school rooms.
So pleasing was the effect produced
upon all parties interested, that re-
solved last autumn to devise a plan
for placing pictures in all the school
houses of the county AS the plan
succeeded so admirably and cost so
little, l give it for the benefit of 9TH
ers who may feel an interest in es-
thetics. l sent to the city for one
hundred neat chromos, 10xl2 inches,
which cost only trifie at wholesale
prices, and | carried several of these
with me wherever l went ia my work
of visiting schools. In each school /
proposed to present one of these pic
lures upon condition that the teacher
and pupils would promise at least one
more for their school room. The
prospal accepted, committee OF
pupils, ladies ana gentlemen, appoint
ed by the teacher, would make choice
of picture which l then presented
to The school. The interest in pic
lures flew in all directions, and in
many places they anticipated the Su-
perintendent's coming by performing
their part Of the contract 10 advance.
The method adopted to accomplish
this was as follows:
The teacher furnished one picture
and gave permission to each family,
sometimes to each pupil, to furnish
one. In rural districts where pictures
were not plenty, some pupils clipped
them from magazines and almanacs
l was pleased to see, even in these
cases, ingenuity and taste in framing
them, using, as they did, for this pur-
pose, wood, leather, paper, cornstalks,
shells, autumn leaves and fern. In
other communities cultivated mothers
yielding to the earnest appeals of
their children, selected from the par
Tors their finest pictures and purest
notices for the adornment of the
school room. These beautiful pic
lures and notices paid their cost in a
single session. They strengthened in
the pupils love of the beautiful, d
love of cleanliness, love of order and
/ love for their own school. The
walls and windows of the school room
were kept clean and clear of cob webs
and scrapers and mats were placed at
many Of the doors. Cleanliness of
person and neatness of attire is a
marked characteristic OF most of the
teachers and pupils OF our schools.
The inspiration produced by this es-
thetic culture has been caught by
many of the less fortunate pupils and
is shedding sunshine into their hum
BILE homes"