Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-06-19
Read at the Class Day Exercises Of
Cresco High School, Thursday
Afternoon, June 9Th.
ART, IT'S RELATION AND VALUE
TO EDUCATION.
BY TOM MABON

When history ceases to be conceived |
merely as q chronicle of events, but,
appeals to one as an evolution of races
and epochs-which has been unbroken
from the time of the Chaldeans and
the Egyptians to the present time-art
appears to be study of much import
ance.
When for twenty centuries the Pyra-
mids of Egypt had looked down on
the populous valley of the Nile, the
Israelites were established in the
LAND OF Promise" their Phoenecian
neighbors traded in every Mediterra-
mean lagoon and river mouth and
the region of the Euphrates and
Tigres had been for ages the
cradle and the tomb of Empires,
then, there came new people,
the Hellenes, or as the Romans taught
US to call them, the Greeks, who diff
fered widely from all previous or con-
unique and splendid civilization to
which we owe the source of half the
ideas and institutions which govern
the modern world. Their geographical
position, creative ability and great
interest in Art developed distinguished
national traits of character.
Here in America, as yet, Art has not
developed into q school Of representa-
tive Individuality OF national charac-
teristics, but, it is aiding us in more
thorough education of the masses, be-
cause Of its ability to broaden and deep
an the development of the best faculties
of the mind, and for this reason should
undoubtedly rank equally with the
other branches OF study which are pur-
sued in the schools.
Unfortunately there is mistaken
idea in the minds Of many that Art is
an esoteric thing, to be used by the
favored few and that 1t Is not advisable
to give it q place in the education of
the masses, forgetting that Goethe
says, nThe middle station is the most
favorable to genius, you find the great
artists and poets there"
Art has at all times stood as the
highest expression Of nations feeling:
religion, culture and patriotism find
vent and fulfillment in artistic symbols.
An interest in and the study of Art
does not mean an inefdciencY in other
lines for it does not weaken but broad
velopment.
1t should always be borne in mind
that q lesson begun In the school room
does not end there.
The pnpil is, or should be, all his
life adding to his knowledge, the
foundation Of which Is laid by his daily
lessons in the school.
We all know that environment has
much to do with the forming and de-
veloping OF character and it seems de-
sirable and necessary that the child
should be surrounded by those things
which have Q tendency to uplift and
bring out his better nature.
While perhaps many children have
these uplifting surroundings in their
homes, we know that the masses have
not and therefore the school room in.
vironment il almost the only hope they
have tor true and good formation Of
pharAter.
Every school room should possess at
least few copies Of truly fine paint
tngs and If possible some good pieces
Of sculpture. Who can estimate the
pleasure and profit to be derived by the
pupils who have daily opportunity to
see and study such paintings as
G Gas! "sprisPgg and Lake" and Gut
Such scenes as aThe Announcement
OF the Shepherds, !" "The Last Supper"
and 1.-THE Ascension" all tend to call
2 lOIv0 E0A1k AOao 6OaU1IA0Ap d4O U0duGy
character and 1.-THE Madonna" certain.
" brings forth the lesson Of the grand
sacredness of life and motherhood.
Such views as 1.-THE Cotter' 3 Saturday
Night" and "Snow Bound" bring
wildly before us the comforts and
blessings Of home. And where is the
child who Is not in some degree in
spired with feelings OF patriotism
when he gazes on such pictures as "Old
Liberty Tree, Paul Revere's Ride, y
NV Washington Crossing the Deleware,' y
and many others which depict stir
ring scenes In our history?
These works Of Art placed in the
schools are not to be considered merely
Is pleasing to the eye and ornamental
accusations to the school room but as
real aids to pupil and teacher; for, art
in such guise as pictures and drawings
we'll supplements lessons in geography,
arithmetic, language, history and
literature by making them realistic
and interesting to pupils, and conse-
quently the subject matter proper is
more easily retained by the memory
and stored for future use.
Great art may be near or far and
among the many there may be future
artists or not, but, that should not
count IL the mission Of art instruction
fl the schools, for, its mission should