New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-30
High School Art Coursesl
Not Practical, Says
Expert.
TEACHERS TAKE
TIPS FROM TRADE,
Commercial Art Training Called
Not So Good as
Technical.
By HENRIETTA RODMAN.

The unwillingness OF experts to be
Quoted is the tragedy OF reporters.
An EXPERT on commercial training
told me Yesterday that the commercial
course AZ the Julia Richmsn High
School is the best in the city, and an
evnert on art training told me the day
before that the technical art course at
Washington Irving is the best OF l's
kind.
These statements mean, OF course,
that the public schools are now TOT the
first time doing better work than even
the best private schools.
"No art school really prepares lts
students 20 meet the actual demands
Of the trade" the crluc coninueu'
"Thev are mainly based on tradition
they teach more historic ornament than
poster work. 80.
perhaps they are unwilling 10 oe-
grade art" ! suggested.
Nonsense; a thoroughly good COM
n,ercial course would include drawing
from the nude. which is. of course tne
highest form Of art. as the voice is the
unrest music. But no high school has
a life class. The girls of Washington
Irving attend one outside the school.
Most graduates Of technical art courses
have TO attend life classes al night.
"The most practical step that Is being
4aken inst now is DR.. Haney's sendlng
The art teachers Of Washington Irving
High School 20 visit art frms. W
course. the same thing has been done
., smaller scale before, but these
teachers are each spending month
outside the school, among commerciai
Then went TO see Mrs. Janet Che
new. head of the art department AT
Washington Irving.
"The employers are cooperating
with the teachers in every way, sne
said. 1--WE are learning just whaV the
trade demands.
How can they?" said a member OF
tho Board of Education. "The teach
rs dor't know how to make an in
vostication. OF course, we need thor-
onch SURVEYS Of the arts, as well as
tho industries, or our training IN the
nublic schools will lead nowhere. But
onlv trained Investigators can md out
rot onlv what the employers want us
~ give them. but what they are VIII
;not 70 give us. We may find out exact
~ how 20 prepare a girl TO do GER
,sin kind of work which employers
v,ort done But what we want 10
Enow is what she will get for doing It,
That's our responsibility"
No doubt everybody's right. Inc
teachers will get a knowledge OF TRACE
demands. which will make their teacn-
INC more practical and enable their
punils to obtain positions hore
promptly and at better salaries
Bet these benefits will be Temporary
unless they are based upon suci. M
ourh studies of conditions, not onIy
Of work, but Of workers as only ca
perts can make.
Sneakinr of democracy, did you
know that the establishment OF
teachers council was advocated py inc
committee on school inquiry appoint
cd by the Board of Estimate! Dld you
know that this committee recommehueo
that the council should have general
mower and direction with regard 10
programmes of studies and all other
essential matters relating TO metnods
and standards Of instruction .
Do you realize that our frlenos Oh
the progressive" majority on the
BOARD of Education have gwen US less
than was advocated by a committee
amounted and Endorsed by the Board
Of Estimate.
Rv tine way, the day is passing in
which mere opposition to the absoluu-
tisrn of the city superintendent made
progressive.
The dav is almost when IL will be
impossible for any one 70 hold the title
of "leader of the progressives" and at
the same time oppose, for example, the
appointment of married women in the
schools and the teaching OF sex ny
giene.
The very lengthy discussion Of Mrs
Dunphy's case by the Board of Edu,
cation failed to reveal why she should
be given precedence in the matter o.
nension over forty other teachers who
were not under charges:
When reflect upon the Boards evi
dent partially for Mrs. Dunphy, AM
upon the theatre tickets and invitation
to luncheon that have enjoyed sine
was suspended. | am oppressed b.
the injustice of society.