The San Francisco call., 1910-04-04
SCHOOLS NEED
NEW SYSTEM OF
DRAWING STUDY
RoncOvieri Admits That Change
Is Contemplated, but OPP
poses Experts
Other Educators Uphold De.
mands of Teachers and De-
nOunce Present Plan

This letter criticising the drawing
course meets with my approval in
many ways. But the chief criticism
together by experts Instead of by the
regular teachers, under the super
vision of experts, il not well taken
when we consider the whole matter
Alfred Roncovieri, superintendent of
San Francisco schools.
In san Francisco and in the rest of
the state for that matter they are try
ing TO teach drawing to the grammar
school teachers who know nothing OF
ID. The attempt is vaIueIess.-Goddard
Gale. head of drawing department of
Polytechnic high school. Oakland.
The system by which drawing is
taught here is similar to that In San
Francisco, and L can not suggest a
better one.-Thomas Olin Crawford,
principal Of Bay school. Oakland.
The san Francisco teachers are
absolutely right. &C. Chapel Judson.
professor of drawing at University of
California.
believe the teachers to he right
Mrs. Elinor Carlisle of Berkeley board
OF education.
do not consider il necessary 10 have
a special teacher in draEinR.-Will c.
Wood. superintendent OF Alameda
schools.
That the present method of teaching
drawing in the public schools Of San
Francisco is an incubus" and a bug
bear" as a letter directed by a number
Of the teachers TO the school depart
ment states, superintendent of Schools
Alfred Roncovieri does not believe. but
that more industrial drawing should be
taught and less of the freehand, he
heartily agrees.
contemplating a change in the drawing
course. so that the pupils might receive
more training in mechanical drawing.
7 sent out 4 circular letter to the
teachers asking for frank suggestions
2 S 10 changes in our course of study"
the superintendent explained yesterday,
and this letter criticisinE the drawing
course meets with my approval in many
ways. But the chief criticism. that the
drawing should be taught altogether
By experts, instead of by the regular
teachers under the supervision of ex-
peTts, is not well taken, when we con-
slider the whole matter.
1t is a grand idea to contemplate
but hardly possible to carry into effect.
unless at a great expense. We now
have four experts who supervise the
teaching of drawing, and 1900 regular
teachers. That means 1900 classes. To
have all these classes taught drawing
by experts would cost very much, in
deed. and 7 do not think the tax payers
would care TO assume the expense All
teachers are required to have a knowl-
edge Of drawing and pass an eXamina-
ton in It before they can become
teachers, and all are taught drawing in
the normal schools
Any criticism of the work in draw
ing now being done is well answered
by the magnificent diploma and the
gold medal-hrst prize-recently sent
us by the officials of the Alaska Yukon
exposition for the exhibits of San
Francisco school children's work in
drawing We won first mention. But
that the kind Of drawing taught should
be changed a bit. that the percentage Of
artistic drawing and industrial drawing
should be reversed and more Of the
latter taught and less of the former.
7 helf<ye