New-York tribune., 1907-12-09
ARCHITECTS TRAINING.
For ADEQUATE SYSTEM.
Com mittee Reports Recommenda-
tons to american Institute.

At the recent national convention of the Ameri-
can Institute OF Architects, held in Chicago, a
port was read and approved from a committee ap-
pointed 20 recommend an adequate system OF
architectural education. The members of the COM
mttee are Ralph Adams Cram. chairman John NJ.
CarreTe, William NJ. Kendall, r. Clipston Sturgis
and S. B P.NTrowhridge.
Among the noteworthy recommendations of the
committee are nterscholastc competitions the
teaching Of advanced design by practising archi-
tects under some form Of the ateier system; that
proficiency in Latin be made an integral part of
the requirements for a degree; the desrabty OF
a certain amount of education in the theory and
practice of the other branches of fine arts and a
general broadening OF the basis technical educa-
ton; that the average four-year course in aTchi-
lecture be increased to seven years. and that
courses in architecture be established at West
Point and Annapolis.
The report of the committee Is. in part. as
follows:
It voted that it was the sense of the joint
committee that reasonable proficiency IN Latin
gree in Architecture: that in years course in
HtarS should not be dHerentlated in the least from
ihat IN the course IN architecture and, finally that
by no means INDISPENSABLE and might well he elin-
toward the development of general culture.
These matters all seem TO your committee Of par
amount Importance if we to see architectural
education in America aim toward the productions Of
that cultur'. broad sympathy and learning which
the only basis Tor the successful practice of the
profession. Particularly does it urge that prof
qurements FOR degree. and that the study of the
history of civilization and of the development OF
of this cviIZat tion b. given chc utmost prominence
branches Of ed1c,,tion ii.''-'S r''''O'i'S
II also urges the desirabIIity of n certain amount
OF education IN the theory and practice OF th other
branches Of tinc arts these co-ordnate studies run
-+1,9 ia " 80, @ tI ,i IuIi M pl vi ileC ~ nets
inE consideration OF sculpture and the drama, while
III the case OF Rome sculpture and lyric poetry would
be the accomplishments; with Byzantine ARCHITECT
ure- music poetry and romance, and with the archt
music and again lyric poetry. Indeed. your
might go still further, and that Greek architecture
should carry with Il some knowledge of Greek
military science: Byzantine and Romanesqne t,
early development OF the Church and the rise and
infiCence Of monasticsm. medieval the history OF
the Crusades of feudasrn of tho guilds and COM
ticism and Of scholastic theoioay vhiia thu Renis-
sance would bear with II the rise of humanism. of
It may be objected thst this would be impossible
In the length of time usually devoted 10 architect
ural education. The reply TO this is, perhaps, the
strongest recommendation your committee can make
pressing need IN education to-day is curtaiment
but extension. n -Four Years is the conve9tonti a
practically shortened TO three years oy the intro
6ucton of prsparatory year which aims TO Civ, give
would otherwise have received in schools colleges
extended by from one 10 three years study OF ad-
vanced design in Paris, but for the great majority
paratory is intruded is ali they get. barring
travel in Europe and few years service drafts
men in architectural Offices.
Now, II to your committee that every ef-
fort should be made toward establishing the prin-
Cple that adequate architectural education con-
sists OF four categores: First. year of prepara-
tory study when this has not been acquired in
schools or colleges, second. four years A school
OF architecture: third at least one and preferably
two or three years. given TO advanced & design In
Paris Rome or I'm American ateliers fourth, at
least year travel in Europe, undertaken on lines
recommended by Il board OF advisers 10 meet the
special fnclinations remedy tho special deftcen-
cieS Of the student, who would report regularly 10
such board during his absence and on his return
submit his sketches and statement OF what he had
observed and concluded to this same board for
criticism and advice.