The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-28


 For she's the art supervisor in all the public schools.
 There are a great many persons who frequently declare:
 But what good is art ever going to do me or my child?"
 Just this good:
 Inasmuch as you raise the taste of the general public, of every per son, for beautiful pictures. and love creations, just that much do you lift the people to the rank of an artistic race.
 Foreigners Better Trained
 Observe the foreign countries. There is hardly child in them who does not know poor picture from one that is really beautiful in an ar tistic way. He can tell you why thing is beautiful. Our children of America up to few years ago when art was introduced into the public schools, almost looked upon, as rep resentations of ideal art, the calendar pictures of child-faced ladies flash fly dressed and showing full set of shining white teeth.
 Today test out the average child who has studied art in his school for any length of time. He daily sees lovely masterpieces at his school, be- comes trained in what is attractive. He represents progress in good taste that speaks we'll for Americas fu- ture.
 went out with Mrs. Eldred the past week on a tour of inspection among the schools to see the chill dren making posters for the house. wives exhibit-that magnificent move to insure year-rodnd support to | our local manufacturers, and there- fore support to our citys industries. Working Hard l Students were busily cutting out I letters or pasting them on big card boards, along with pictures that were meant to impress mothers and | housewives with things that are dc- tually produced in the Magic City. Boys and girls alike-all were work ing as though life depended upon it.
 But they also were making mis- takes, errors in judgment of one kind or another; and you should have {; seen with what eager footsteps they hastened to Mrs. Eldred Get Instant Aid
 How is this? What's wrong here7 Tell me how to fix my letters. This picture doesn't seem to suit" She Explains
 And so patiently. so carefully, did Mrs. Eldred explain all these ue- tails. Even in the first grade in- l struction rooms. where the kidd:es were drawing stick men and stick ladies, and getting on to the idea of making an American flag. did Mrs. Eldred stop over each tousled head to set forth specifically what was the | matter with this or that picture; this or that movement of a COW. horse, a man, in the action of walking or running which made the drawing an | unnatural likeness.
 Now if you will turn this line about just like this, you'll get the 1 proper effect" would suggest Mrs. Eidred, and the delighted art worker would get busy.
 But do not let me forget the great fundamental thing.
 l Artistx Inspired | Real artists find themselves over these little pictures; great dreams wake in their hearts. From the school ranks, Mrs. Eldred has sent | into the commercial world from Bir- mingham many boys who have gone | out to make good for themselves and for the Magic City. Some really 1 clever, inspirational work is done by ! the students. both on The Mirror" the Central High school journal. and the Ensley High school "Gleam."
 Mrs. Eldred, however, sounded . note that was brand new to me. It