The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-09
Ant AND LABOR.
A Teachers Plea for sO-CaIled ''Fads'' IN
the Public schools.

those who are active IN making attacks on
the eO-called -fada' In the public schools
lall TO appreciate the great WRONG " would
be, especially 10 the children Of the "laborng
classes" and Of tho poor 10 throw out OF
the public school curriculum the teaching
OF the elementary principles Of art, becomes
apparent upon a thoughtful consideration
OF the value Of these principles to children
OF all classes, but especially 70 those whose
only opportunity for instruction Is Few
years In the primary and intermediate grades
In our public schools. u
In all civilized communities there Ia now
an oyerplus Of common, unskiled. unedu-
Gated labor. As consequence the wages
OF such labor are barely sufficient 20 procure
tho most meagre subsistence and altogether
Inadequate to the support Of a family. When
ever from among this class one rises out OF
the ranks and commands for himself better
position and better wages, II will be found
that such a laborer has shown a quicker eye,
a more practised hand. more skilled fingers
and quicker intellectual perception OF cor
Tectness in form than his fellows. Where
have this greater qulckness Of eye and this
greater skill OF hand come from? Either
from some natural talent for the perception
OF form OF from some early training OF the
eye and hand. And this training OF the eye
and hand has probably been obtained from
some faithful teacher Of the fad" Of drawing
or Of clay modelling In the lower grades OF
our public schools Especially In the de-
partment Of building does this education OF
the eye and hand. however elementary, prove
itself Of incalCulable value TO the worker
This fact the various trade Journals fully
recognize. In the Plasterers Monthly OF re-
cent date several pages are devoted 70 show
Ing how the trade OF plsstering Is rapidly
developing into an important art. since 20
much OF the most beautiful decorations OF
Ana kttflAfnRa Ia hvrt MI and
q course OF lessons In modelling In clay IL
strongly urged upon all who would become
first class plasteTers. The same principle
holds good in paperlng. fTescOing and house
decorating generally The trained eye and
the skilled fingers are bound always 10 take
precedence Of the unframed and the un-
skilled. In all departments Of the construc-
tlon Of buildings q knowledge OF the prin-
oiples Of drawing IL OF great value and often
forms the basis OF that ability which enables
lts possessor 20 rise out OF the ranks and to
become the director OF labor. the contractor
and builder himself
So much for the economic. the material
value Of two OF the so-cAlled -fads. drawing
aud clay modelling 10 the children Of the
laborng classes The value and importance
OF teaching the arts OF beauty and refine
ment, such as music. drawing and literature.
In the public schools may perhaps best be
shown by an illustration.
large employer Of labor in the depart
ment OF building and contracting in one Of
our great cities was recently asked about
the rates Of wages paid 20 different classes
OF woThmen in his employ aud the choct Of
particularly high wages upon the laborers
who received them. His reply was that 1t
all depended upon the grade OF intelligence
of the laboTers themselves. A an illustra-
uoh ne ssid that Ger class o. laO ,9'
were able TO command the highest wages
paid 70 mechanics. This particular class did
not do specially skilled work, and Us members
were among the most uneduCated to be found
In the ranks OF labor. lie said that they
Tor Their families than iaboTeTs who received
much lower wages. The reason for this he
believed 10 be their entire lack OF intellectual
development or education. Many OF them
seemed but little removed in their Instincts
and desires above the most ignorant OF foreign
immigrants. They had no Apr eciatlon q com
fort and beauty In their homes, hence bad no
desire 20 improve them, place In which 10
sleep and to eat was their only idea OF nome,
them. Their higher wages were spent in the
qualification Of the sensuouS appettes, "
9T9r sPd tS6HSe9 Ss b SI thS e gatbb eT
did not know how TO use II, except in gather
ing In crowds in saloons or beer haQq, In igs
beer r" drinEns' There was no development
OF the intellectual or higher nature that would
onsbp 'G Of ther eI fSmes Or he besGtyns
or improving Of their homes. His opinion,
therefore. was that shorter hours ana hlgher
wages were Of no particular benent 70 unedu-
Nov for iaborsrs or others who have at;
tanned the age Of manhood or womanhood
lifting tastes that tend 70 elevate man above
the brute, nothing can be done; II Is too late
But mans higher nature must be developed
and fed and nourish ed, and that higher ma
tuTe is the one that appreciates and loves
ART How essy il Is to see where the funda-
mental remedy lies. that shall prevent the
children OF these laborers from following
basing life Of their parents, II is wholly in
the hands OF the teachers in the public schoolsi
edu waGm thST eSiIaren e tsSs iabSrsTs
had any intellectual resources, II they cared
to read, II they appreciated even neatness
changes would at once be wrought In theiT
liyesl The wages that now go for beer and
tobacco would be spent In securing comforts
aud even adornments for their homes and for
heir wives and children. Books. magazines
and papers would have some place in the emi
music. the practice OF that art in social organ
izations and for entertainment would take
The S Opportunity for impiantine these higher
tastes In their children is one that must be
seized by the patriotic and philanthToplcc
hope for the elevation in the social and in
tellectual scale Of their own fellow creatures.
Here is the truest, the deepest reason why
the clements OF all the arts should form a
part OF the public school curriculum. The
teacher who can implant not only In the chill
dren OF the well 10 do classes but also in the
children of tho debased and Ignorant even
the germs OF love for music. for poetry, for
literature for beauty: who can teach them 20
love the simple songs OF true music or the
simple poems Of the true poet: who can awaken
In them a love for flowers OF for beauty in any
form: who can draw them away from tn be-
lief that the only end and aim Of life Is 20 be
fed and clothed and housed-that teacher
will prove the evangelist who shall help 20
elevate tho laboring classes OF the future into
habits OF life that will make higher wages
and shorter hours Of labor OF some peTma-
neut value.
This much by way Of argument as TO the
value OF teaching the elements OF art in
the public schools as related 70 the grown
mp man or woman. But how IL IL a. related
20 the happiness and wellbeinR OF children
themselves1 One OF the arguments used
the public schools Il that the children have
No child who attends the public school in
any large city spends less than four hours In
the school room Now, tho FIRST necessity
for the healthful and happy development OF
the child Is variety Of occupation, change, |
opportunity for expression As one Of the
wise woman superintendents OF the Chicago
public schools said IN eject IN regard 70 the
work Of modelling In clay: NO Chlid can
be kept even for three hours at the work OF
reading and writing and numbers without
great fatigue. The little brain needs change
refreshment. interest, and this ls precisely
what is furnished by the introduction OF
singing. drawing, clay modelling and color
work