Some Fundamental Verities in Education (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911. Excerpt: ... II Expression thru Art Art training in schools does not mean instruction in drawing only. We shall see later that drawing is in fact the most difficult part of the art. Art training includes modeling in clay, paper cutting, color work, construction, decoration (on paper, in carving, weaving, etc.), and a number of other occupations. // means beautifying the objects the child handles, or makes, or loves. It means the beautifying, finishing touch to all his products. Art is the manifestation of the highest genius of the race; it makes the creature a creator; it means a rebirth of the world, from the mind of a human being, so that it may become his own world, his own life, his own glory and perfection. It is thru art that man divines the divine. Art will pervade all the child does. It is the liberating element in manual culture. It is the noblest form of motor expression. It is expression. Let us be definite about this: It is expression as much as language is. The language of the pyramids speaks to us with a powerful voice, and the wall-paintings of ancient Egypt tell us more about her civilization which has long since vanished from the face of the earth, than even the papyrus rolls of their contemporaries. And long before there were books, there was art. The carvings of the Fiji Islanders, the picture writings of the American Indians, the hieroglyphics of ancient Peru and Mexico are a treasure trove of ancient historic documents. Thus, even to a young child of a modern father and mother, art is a form of expression which develops even before he can express his conceptions adequately in oral or written form. The child loves to build structures in the sand and mud, or with blocks and toys; to cut out and draw, long ere he can write a composition on the though...