New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-03-13
MIR. DILLAWAY ON
CIVIC ADOMMENT
Boston Educator Speaks at Meet
Meeting in Grammar School

Last night at the Ora mmar school
hall, before a small nut highly inter
ested audience Theodore NJ. DiIlaUay,
director of art education of tho Bos-
ton public schools. save a lecture on
'CiVic Beauty The lecture was il
Illustrated with Il large number of
sides from various parts of the coun-
ny, some Of them local. Mr.. DiIla-
way was introduced by Joseph C.
WISeltier, director of art education in
this city. Mr.. W'iseIticr stated in his
Introductory remarks that great
things had often come from small
reg1nn1ngs and he assured the speak
CT that New Britain was more keen
~ alive TO the commercial and esthct-
c Importance of civic beauty than
the size of the audience would iudi-
cate
Mr.. Dillaway prefaced his remarks
by playing three flute selections that
were much enjoyed. He was ac-
companied by Mr.. Beebe and Mr.
F1eitzer. In the course of his re-
marks Mr.. Dillaway showed how
beautiful environment is a factor not
only in education but in the whole
life of the individual and in the sum
total of the civilization of a nation.
In soaking of attractive school
grounds and buildings he stated that
they have n marked influence on the
development of character, that daily
association with disorderly school
grounds and buildings furnished with
cheap decorations is akin to asso-
ciating with trashy literature.
ANY community, he said, could add
the element of good proportion and
simple, attractive oTnamentation to it's
school architecture, as it would entail
only an additional expense of five per
cent. over the cost of construction for
strictly unitarian purposes. He stated
that there has been a notable improve
ment in school architecture in recent
years and that in some localities the
latest school buildings compare favor
ably with other public buildings. He
doubted very much if future genera
tons would thank us for erecting, in
the name of economy, schools that are
devoid of all architectural beauty. He
referred to the so-called factory type
of buildings, an example of which we
have here in New Britain in the Pre-
vocational building. Mr.. Dillavay
said that much could be done to i'm
prove present conditions by the judi
cious planting of trees and shrub bery.
One OF the finest slides he showed
vas loaned him by a, man out West
and it was labeled "A School in Con-
necticut.' M. IillaWay wished to
know where it was but no one in the
audience could identify it. Another
fine school was IN Greenfield, Ohio,
where wealthy citizen has donated
TO the city q fine school building with
every upto date equipment with
paintings and casts and with mural
decorations. Farmers and other
people living in tho neighborhood are
moving into Greenfield in large num-
Eers in order that their children may
have tho opportunity to attend that
school.
In conclusion Mr.. Dillaway offered
what seemed 4, very workable con-
structiVe suggestion, namely that
every community should organize a
com mittee on civic beauty consisting
CT leading architects and artists in
the community. A sub committee of
this board should have charge Of all
problems pertaining to public school
decoration including the approval of
architectural styles, beautifying the
school grounds and interior decora-
ton. The director of art education
in the public schools should be a
m m her of such q committees