ART IN THE SCHOOLS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4331, 15 April 1901, Page 7

ART IN THE SCHOOLS

AN AMERICAN VISITOR INTERVIEWED. Mr Charles Keeler, of Berkeley,, (kdifornhi, who is at, present in Wellington, is writing a series of magazine articles j descriptive of New Zealand, and _ is Ail;-': contributing articles to the- "Han Francisco Chronicle” in regard to this oniony. Mr and Jlrs Keeler have visited tho Southern -Lakes, and arc to leave ‘on Tuesday for Cmcen Chariotlc_Souikl. •They v. ill afterwards visit Rotorua. They have spent about two months in dim colony, and are greatly impics.-. ; with the scenery of New Zealand. .Mrs ; Keeler, who is an arlid., has secured • some admirable sketches, includin'.* i %h w.o of tho hake country in the South Miami, and of characteristic parts of i the North Island, in Auckland, Napier.

ami Mastcrlou. .Mr and Airs Keeler, before coming to New Zealand, visited T"hiti.

Mr Keeler, in an interesting chat with a representative of the “New Zealand Times ” last night, gave an ac- ■ vomu. of the work done in introducing; :! lie Jove for art into tho schools of i America. The movement in this dircc- | (ion has now assumed considerable nn- ; portanoo in California. It took its rise jin England, and is redolent of tho spirit of Lewis Morris and Ruskin. The teachers have .been led to -feel the cducaiiu: influence of art, whilst the children's surroundings have been improved a!ld made more artistic. Tims, the schoolrooms arc decorated, and in sonio places plaster easts of Greek classical subjects are exhibited on tho_u:ilJ -, Not long since, a band of enthusiastic spirits—the Hillside Chib—who have interested thcipsclvc.s in architecture, were instrumental in .scouring approval lor an artistic design for a .sckoolliou.se which is notable for its homelike interior, its largy. open ffrc-placcs, and its (plaint departure generally from the humdrum lines of public buildings. There is no systematic plan at present on which all this work has been done, but, as has been said, the movement is growing, and its promoters have every hope for its future.

Another remarkable institution in America about which our visitor has much to say is the “ Boys’ Club.” This is a form of rescue work which has already Jiad groat results. Homes distinguished by every mark of refinement and good taste arc established in districts where tho poorer, , and, perhaps, tho depraved, classes live. These homes become the meeting-places for the boys or such districts, wuo- arc thus brought under refining and elevating, influences, with the result that they are raised to better opportunities than their slum life would give them, and are led to become useful citizens. Mr Keller quotes a, case in point, that of two boys who. Unis rescued from evil surroundings, arc at th C : present time going through l their course at the university. As. has been stated, Mr and Mrs Keeler arc delighted with what they have seen of New Zealand scenery, but I hey express their grievous disappointment at. the rapid destruction of timber which they sec going on everywhere. To tho lover of nature, as Mr Keeler says, this spectacle appeals with particular force. Mr Keeler is to. give a lecture tonight before the Educational Institute oil “ Recent Tendencies in Art.”