It should be noted also that it is not the province of the State, under existing laws, to determine the spirit and scope of the art instruction in the towns and cities within its jurisdiction. The State, through its Board of Education, its Normal Art School, and its agents for the promotion of art instruction in the public schools, encourages the thorough preparation of drawing teachers and the employment of such trained teachers by the local school boards. It also puts before the supervisors of drawing what it conceives to be worthy ideals, but encourages independence of thought on their part in working towards such ideals or towards ideals of their own choosing. The present exhibition does not, therefore, illustrate a State course of art instruction, although it reflects, to some extent, a State influEach town or city contributes its own course, for which the local school committee, through its supervisor of drawing, is alone responsible. ence. On Saturday, September 30, at 10 A.M., a conference for the discussion of the exhibition and such questions as it may raise will be held in the hall of the Massachusetts Normal Art School, corner of Newbury and Exeter streets. The secretary of the State Board of Education will preside, and several gentlemen of recognized standing in matters of art education will take part in the discussion. especially interested in the exhibition are invited to be present. Persons A special exhibition of plates, consisting of drawings by the old masters, industrial design, historic ornament, art anatomy, etc., may be seen at the Boston Public Library. On the tables in the fine arts department will be found collections of books in all departments of art education for teachers and others interested. The library is open on Sunday afternoon and evening, as well as throughout the week. The Museum of Fine Arts is free to the public on Saturday and Sunday. FRANK A. HILL, HENRY T. Bailey, Secretary of the State Board of Education. Agent for the Promotion of Industrial Drawing. L. WALTER SARGENT, Assistant. COMMITTEE FOR THE EXHIBITION. FRANK A. HILL, Chairman of the Committee. HENRY T. BAILEY, Secretary of the Committee. GEORGE H. BARTLETT, Principal of the State Normal Art School. EDWIN P. SEAVER, Superintendent of Schools, Boston. DENMAN W. Ross, Cambridge. Miss IRENE WEIR, Director of Art Instruction, Brookline. JAMES HALL, Supervisor of Drawing, Springfield. |