The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-10-24
Music and Drawing In the City
Schools.
Delayed from last week.

SCHOOLS.
Delayed from last week.
Six years ago music was introduced
into tho schools here, the teachers work
ing without special supervisor for two
years. AS they had reached the limit
of efficiens work without special in.
struction, ] recommended in my last re-
port TO the Board of Education, that a
supervisor of music be employed. In
accordance with the same the Board
employed such supervisor and also in
stituted drawing as well as music The
work in both has been confined to grades
below the eighth and the supervisors
have been employed for half of their
time.
The work has reached point where
the possibilities and needs are greater
than in the past.
The music books with few exceptions
were practically worn out and new
books of some kind must be supplied.
Instead of adding expense to series
that has practically gone out of use, the
Board of Education decided to use
the Modern Music Course, considered to
be the best system in use today. The
new books are now here and will be in
use next week.
With the new books, Miss Kanagy,
Supervisor Of Music, considers it to be
a practical step to include the eighth
grade in music work.
trust that the way will be clear at
the beginning Of the next school year in
September, to include the high school
in this line of music instruction and
that the full time of the supervisor can
be utilized here.
According to the plan of stopping this
work at end of seventh grade, we find
that the pupils drop the study at time
when they are best fitted to make most
f, efficient progress and realize practical
results.
What has been said about extending
the work in music and its consequent
results, can be as well said in regard, to
the work in drawing.
When the idea of constructive draw
ing begins to take positive form in the
child's mind, il is time for pursuing
the study with additional emphasis,
rather than time for neglecting it.
The supervisors of both music and
| drawing have arranged for a teachers
class in those subjects and now meet the
teachers for regular study once each
week. This will unity the work, and
the teachers will be more systematic
and progressive in these respective
branches.
I think that there is no question but
that in the future in the employment
of teachers, it will be expected that
applicants will be as well prepared to
teach both music and drawing as any
other subjects in their work.
Music and Drawing have an educa'
tional value outside of the mere ability
to sing or to draw. They are two lines
of expression that child does not meet
in any other studies A knowledge OF
musical elements, is most valuable aid
in improving the work in reading. II
involves recognition of pitch, tone
time, and articulation not found in any
other study. 1t is most valuable ait
in the good government of school, a
hearty musical exercise puts schoo
into proper shape for better work IL
everything
Drawing brings forward possibilit.
in expression next in Importance t.
speech itself. 1t largely increases {
child's or a persons powers of doing
something in the most effective way
With it he can supplement the power O
speech and thus become doubly effective
We believe there is good opportunit!
at this time to increase the genera
appreciation of these studies in tn,
school and in the community. AS W.
have already said additional emphasi
is being placed upon them in school ant
we ask our patrons to lend their as
sistance by encouraging the children
in the study of these subjects and tt
accord to them as important place as
is given to geography, history, o,
arithmetic.
Our next letter will speak about oui
system Of reports to parents concerning
class work and attendance at school.
Respectfully,
j. w. SIMMONS,