The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-16

The public schools Of Birmingham are
giving much this winter toward general
cultivation and development of SYM
pathy between patrons and the teachers.
At frequent meetings of the Improvement
associations, which are part of every
school In the city. the problems grow
+. ing out Of the teaching of the various
branches which compose the superb sys-
TEN for which the local schools are noted
ale discussed to the mutual satisfaction
Of teachers ans mothers. At the meet
ing this week in the South Highlands
schools, Mrs Lenora Eldred of the de-
partment of drawing and manual arts,
and Miss Hogan Of the music department,
each presented practical paper on the
, need of her branch of work and the diff
nculties encountered in presenting it.
Mrs. Eldred's paper on: 1.-THE Reasons
for Teaching Drawing in the Public
Schools" was chiefly extemporaneous,
and its interest was enhanced by the IL
Illustrations which Mrs. Eldred had gath
cred among examples of work done in
the various schools Baslng her argument
on the familiar attitude. Il know moth
ing about art. but / know what like,
she very cieverly presented her plea for
artistic appreciation. saying that tine
tone and manner of the speaker must
be considered in interpreting these woods.
They may indicate anything from pro-
found regret for personal Ignorance TO
supreme contempt for esthetcs and all
who assume to talk on that subject"
IN any case. the words reveal q COM
mon and unfortunate attitude Of mind.
one does not say aloud. IT know Moth
ing about marks. but know what |
liISer' The ethical attitude is, want to
know what is right that may do it. The
attitude toward art should be: 'I want to
ldaow what is beautiful that l may en-
Joy It,"
Those words express. I believe. the
real desire OF every normal human be-
ing We all wish to be able TO recognize
beauty wherever il appears and to take
delight IN it, TO be able TO produce beauty
IN whatever we do that everybody may
like IL
such a condition Is of course not at
iainablo by all in equal degree. Artists
will continue TO be born, not made, but
person who knows what he likes may
know something about art"-the order-
ing OF the elements to produce beauty.
DR.. Denman w. Ross has put it: I'VE
may all learn what constitutes order, and
we may achieve that at least, in our
daily lives Beauty is a supreme ex-
ample of order, achieved instlnctively
and recognized lntintiveiy. That 1t re-
served for the masters"
But we may all learn the elements Of
beauty and embody them in our work.
,rhis will help US to discover and to en-
10Y beauty itself in nature and in art.
At the very outset let US agree with
Plato that: "rhose things which are
said to be done by nature are indeed
done by divine art and furthermore, let
us assume with Emerson that: Beauty
Is one behind many apportions; that the
elements of beauty in nature, in paint
ing. sculpture. the various handicrafts,
architecture, poetry, music and life it,
self are essentially the same, con-
vertible. translatable from ono art into
another.
4 training which calls for very di-
rect exercise of the critical powers, de-
Nelopine Judgment and skill is a train
Ing that will increase the individuals
efficiency whatever his calling may be.
The true purpose of art teaching is the
eudcation of the whole people for ap-
probation. The general public has not
thought of art education In this way, but
has acknowledged the value of draw
ing" especially where it can serve some
utilitarian purpose. A better understand
ing of the true usefulness of art recog-
nizes creative power as a divine gift, the
natural endowment of every human soul
showing itself at first in the form that
We call appreciation. This appreciation
leads certain number to produce actual
marks of art, greater or lesser,-perhaps
temple, perhaps only a cup-but 1t
leads the majority to desire finer form
and more harmony of tone and color in
surroundings and things for daily use.