The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-20

country of the value of school |
room adornment as a factor in
MCVgyI the development of the child is
- contained in the report of the
committee on drawing of the Boston
School Board for the year 1888, and in
this report reference is made to the desira-
bility of forming an art for Schools As
ISOLATION" based upon the ideas presented
in a French report to the Minister of Pub
lie Instruction in 1851, by a committee
formed for the purpose of adjoining school
rooms, "and similar to an English institu-
ton. organized in London. with John Rus
kin as president, and Matthew Arnold,
Lord Leighton together with other emf
nent men, vice presidents.
have recently discovered that some
time before the formation of the English
association a similar suggestion was made
and incorporated in report TO the Board
of Education of the City of Toronto, Can
ada, which would seem to show that the
latter city deserves the honor of initiating
this movement, so far official recogni-
tion is involved. The history of individ-
uai initiative along these lines is too diff
ficult a matter TO take up, and L have
confined myself to printed reports of regu-
lar organizations in tracing the various
steps which have been taken in the past,
and which have formed the basis of the
ideas to which we are indebted for the
progress already made.
This report of the committee of drawing
in Boston was made more than ten years
after the decoration of the hall of the
girls high school of that city, most
notable achievement. and entirely the re-
suit of the efforts of a citizen OF Boston;
and ten years before the actual formation
of any organization such as the report
refo N
Public School Art League came into ex-
fstence. This is to-day the strongest as
sociation of its kind in the country, con-
stantly growing in its activities, and, so
far results show, a strong factor in
demonstrating the value of the ideas which
Il represents
The first consideration in schoolroom
decoration Is the proper colors to use In
Uniting the walls L take it for granted
that the day has gone by forever when it
is necessary to argue for the tintng of
the walls of the classroom, but from care
full observation L can also say that the
subject of correct coloring is still vital
topic for discussion, this special point
has evidently not been thought out along
My experience of several years as a
member of the committee on drawing
OF the Boston School Board and the
opportunities afforded me to study the ques-
tfon along practical as well as an artistic
point of view has resulted in certain con-
illusions which have met with a conci-
dence of opinion from architects. educators
and artists. i may also add that the item
of expense has been taken into consid-
Grafton. but has no bearing on the question.
in spite of what contractors may say. since
their point of view is somewhat warped
by their financial relation to the matter.
The following points are involved in this
question of color: a color which will not
absorb the light: which will present fiat
and dead surface. thus avoiding all refiec-
tons, which shall be classified har-
monious and artistic. and. lastly. which
shall soothe, not irritate the optic nerve
A DOCTORS OPINION.
This latter point is the most important
OF all. and I shall introduce here the opin-
Ion of a noted specialist DIR. Myles Stand
ish. of Boston. who has given careful at
tention to this particular subject. and 1
make the following quotation from his re-
port:
1.-The walls of all schoolrooms should have
some color. for L have often seen children
Immediately and permanently recover from
persistent recurring diseased condition
OF the eyes when removed from a school,
room with white walls and sent elsewhere
20 school. or kept at home. where the
THE principal color of the walls should
be of even tone, that the amount of
light reflected will be the same from all
parts of the surface, as waving or clouded
effects are very trying to sensitive eyes.
Any color may be placed i'm its proper po-
sition with regard to its safety for school,
room walls by remembering the general
rule with regard to the constituencies of
the eye to the colors of the spectrum,
the red end of the spectrum the more irri-
tatfng IL Is TO the eyes; and the nearer
the color is to the blue end of the spectrum.
the easier il is TO the eyes. with the single
exception that the extreme violet rays are
also Irritating.
From this il will be seen that red and ALI
its derivatives should be rigidly excluded.
and orange also nearly as bad while yell
low should never be taken by preference but
may be justifable in an otherwise dark and
badly lighted room. Greens and blues are
absolutely safe colors. and IL Is not at
all necessary that the colors should be pro-
nounced: the depth of color should be
made dependent upon the amount of light
coming into the windows, and upon its
quality: as. for instance. whether the win
dows have northern southern expos
ure, whether the suns direct RAYS can
come directly into the room when the sun
sinks low in the heavens in the middle of a
winter afternoon. and other surrounding
circumstances of each individual room.
THE color of the ceiling of a schoolroom
II fully as important the color OF the
walls. particularly when there is any
amount OF reflected light
"All have said with regard TO the color
on the walls Is doubly true when applied
10 the color OF the window shades. and this
fact should always be taken into considera-
ton in furnishing and decorating school
room.
Taking the above report as a basis we
shall find that the artistic idea touches the
same goal. and the result has been the
adoption OF a soft gray green. which con-
forms to all desired ends. 1t Is soft and
grateful 10 the eye. Is restful In its effect
upon the mind. and no better background
could be selected a foil for paintings
prints or casts. The same color should be
used in the window shades This gray
green is to be used above the blackboard
which I'm itself Is a necessary evil. but i'm
possible 10 overcome. though experiments
have been made 10 substitute something
else besides slate. either through painting
or. as In Toronto, by the use Of heavy
glass. coloring the surface next the wall
Beneath the blackboard the space should
be painted in oil color shade darker
than the space above the board while the
ceiling may be tinted ivory white. The
woodwork should be left I'm it's natural
granting. These suggestions apply 10 well