The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1912-02-23
The Cultivation of Taste in the
School Room.

"Whatever you would have appear
in the life of nation you must put in
to the Schools holds true preeminently
in a country of free public schools.
Three things are to be educated body,
mind, heart-all together, and it is only
by means of skilled labor wisely direct
ed that this can be accomplished, and
that we as a nation can attain unto a
higher degree of culture. What then
50 fitting as the thorough cultivation of
nature, the taste of our people, and
where better can these delicate plants
be cultivated than in our public schools.
Where find we ranker weeds Of sweeter
flower than in the medley of human
souls which combine, to make the
garden in which we labor. We see the
result of this perceptive faculty in the
delight of young children over bright
colors, flowers, trees, etc., and in their
enjoyment of the same; even before
they are able to express themselves in
speech.
Hence we conclude that the child
enters the school room with this faculty
of taste in the mind, modified by heredi-
ty and previous training. The continual
ton of which develops largely the
resources upon which he may draw in
future.
Make prominent in our teaching those
noble traits we wish them most to
admire
Train not so much by precept as by
example, and let us give them the best
of our natures, whereby their own
may be fashioned. & Emerson says:
THAT which we are we teach, not
voluntarily but involuntarilY
Cultivate love for beautiful. objects,
make the surroundings as attractive as
possible. People no longer question the
silent influence of a beautiful environ
ment.
But what shall be the teachers con-
ception of school room decoration, and
how shall she set about to satisfy her
conception in a practical manner?
A few art principals may help us.
Art consists in making a useful thing
beautiful. A modern school-room is a
play room for little ones, study for
of these combined, it is always, living
room where impressions, pleasant or
dis agreeable, are received for many
hours each day. The chief note desired
is simplicity.
| What we want to effect is a clean.
temperate, restful atmosphere in which
to work and to be happy. To produce
this we nust have taste : and fore
thought. There are three factors of
prime importance; cleanliness, order.
harmony.
We may have an attractive table,
o n which is placed new object each
week. Nothing should be used that is
not really beautiful and complete in it.
self.
A branch of autumn leaves, bunch
of holly, shell, a picture tremendously
arranged against suitable back
ground just bit of color and artistic
arrangement to cultivate esthetic en-
joyment and appreciation.
Our window space should be consider
ed an asset in scheme of decoration.
Ferns in hanging baskets, and English
/ ivy trained about a window frame ada
bit of individuality; and help to re
lieve the eye from monotony.
| We should teach the children to love
flowers. Train them to observe more
closely by showing them the different
parts, and telling them about the
cultivation of plants and their peculiar
tiles, teach them that leaves are
beautiful too, and that udicious use
Of the adds another charm to the
arrangement Of flowers, then shall we
be the recipients of gracefully arrang
ed bouquets instead of tightly tied
punches of some sweet flowers stripped
of every leaf.
One of the best places to instill love
for the beautiful is in the school room,
where an opportunity to accomplish
this end is afforded by the study of
drawing. Long, graceful grasses, and
many of the eolored flowers make ex-
cellent models for drawing. God in his
love has so filled this would with beauti-
full things, that even bit of grass or
tiny flower can teach useful lessons,
| Recognition, observation, and love of
the beautiful in no way detract from
the sterner qualities of human nature,
but added to them, make the possesor
of more worth as an individual, and
consequently of greater influence for
good in a community.
We should cultivate taste not only
through the eye, but through the ear.
The correction of children's speech
demands patient and long continued at
tention. A graceful word is as impor
tant as graceful gesture.
Let music have a place too, for it
tends perhaps more than any other
study to make that intangible thing
called atmosphere" it makes for good
will and happiness. Music, then be-
longs in the curriculum because of its
ethical and esthetic value, it lays the
foundation of taste, which is Of ad
vantage now and in the future.
Not inferior to the cultivation of a
taste for beautiful objects and pleasant
sounds is the cultioation of taste for
good reading.
Every gem of literature committed
by the child will perhaps serve later as
an introduction to the author, and will
arouse the desire to know more of the
writer, because there is now some
thing in common between the two
The influence on the child's education