Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-21
Art for the Schools.

A gratifying tendency in our American
life appears today in the disposition of all
classes of people. in all parts of the coun-
try, to seek artistic expression in the home
life, to surround themselves with beauti-
full objects and to encourage nature to put
forth her best results for their pleasure
one symptom of this tendency is the pro-
nounced movement toward city garden
making, the Improvement of door yards, the
reclamation of unsightly commons, and the
stimulation of the city beautiful ideal in
the hearts of the citizens. Another assur-
| ing phase of the same tendency appears in
| the form of school garden work, such as
that which has been successfully prose
cuted in Washington during the past few
seasons. 1t is now broadly recognized that
| many of the most wholesome influences
for the betterment of domestic conditions
spring from the school room, and it is an
| interesting question to ascertain how far
the school garden work has affected and
stimulated the general enterprise of city
decorat ton.
1t is undoubtedly true that in the school
room is chiefly laid the foundation of the
childs art appreciation. If the school work
is somber and bare of beauty, the child
must seek elsewhere for inspiration in eth
ical culture. If that work is colored with
beauty, if the school surroundings are re-
filming, the child must inevitably gain an
early conception of the higher realm of
thought and appreciation.
Consequently there Is now In progress
throughout the United States an effort to
equip the public schools with objects OF
high art, to acquaint the rising generation
with the classic forms of beauty and to
work refining influence as well as directly
to aid in the educational process. 1t has
been difficult, however, to obtain the means
for this work. Municipal treasures are so
hard pressed for funds for what may seem
to be more practical ends that there is but
small encouragement financially for this
important work of the educators.
Therefore the problem of school room dec
Grafton becomes in the last analysis prob
lem of securing funds. A few cities have
adopted the plan of making regular APP
propriations for this object but in most
cases whatever has been accomplished is
the result of individual contributions and
school entertainments. These entertain
ments involve heavy expenditure of time
and energy and produce inadequate and dis
proportionate returns. 1t is difficult to en-
list the financial sympathies of individuals,
Realizing the local need in this respect.
The Star has undertaken to make a begin
ming in the way of public donations of art
objects to the schools of the District, 1t
has arranged for the presentation to the
local public schools of fifteen collections
of beautiful sculpture. numbering one hum
dred and sixty-seven pieces. representing
some of the highest standards OF classic
art and in every way suitable to the pur-
pose held in view by educators In their
effort to surround the pupils with culti-
waiting influences.
The details of this presentation will be
announced fully in the columns OF tomor-
rows Star. 1t is believed that they will
appeal to the interest of not only every
school pupil, but every parent and all
o+bars who are concerned in the welfare of
washington's educational system