SCHOOL WORK AT THE SPRING SHOW.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1761, 6 December 1917, Page 2

SCHOOL WORK AT THE SPRING SHOW.

Dll A WING. The wdrk in this braneh shows a decided improvement on (hat shown in previous years, for which much credit must be given to Mr L. J. Watkins, the organising instructor in drawing to (lie Wanganui Education Board, who' has practically revolutionised the teaching of drawing throughout the district. Indeed, to us of the older generation, whose recollection of drawing at school is that of weirdly constructed copies, usually of conventional ornament, generally intricate ami severe, and always dull and uninteresting, the work of present-day children must, appear remarkable. Nowadays the children’s desire to draw real things is satisfied, and on the walls we noticcd well executed representations of sprays of foliage, spades, cricket bats, etc., not mere outlines either, but artistically treated drawings displaying' much taste. Calling for special mention was the work of Adelina Giorgi in the St. VI., J. Hillas in Std. V. (whose drawing of an " old boot was very realistic), and Bertram Chalk in Std. IV. (whose drawing of a rose leaf was particularly tine. Vernon Daniell’s spade was one of (he most meritorious pieces of work- in the drawing section, being easily first in its class. PLA STICINE MODELLING. There was a really fine exhibit iu this branch. There can hardly he found a better exercise for the training of baud and eye than phisticene modelling, and the little minds cannot hut profit by it. When wc looked at (he work of the tiny lingers we could not help admitting that we are afraid, that we would make hut a poor showing if wo were called upon to compete with them. The work of T. Krebs in Std. I, and T. Walsh in Std. 11., is worthy of incut ion. CARDBOARD MODELLING. This seel ion had no entries from schools outside our town, but the work shown was of good quality, and the drawings of the patterns from which the models are constructed showed an improvement over those of hist year. LETTERING. Stds. V. and VI. —Good work was shown here in this most useful exercise. More attention is now paid to lettering in the schools than in the pasf. and rightly so, for nothing sets oft ;i map or a plan so much as good lettering. The work was in most cases well spaced, and was shown in the detail. MAPPING. ' v Although carefully drawn maps do not find a place in school work to (he some extent as in former years, the work- shown in this section shows (hat when they are put to it the children can hold their own with past competitors. There is always benefit to he derived from the execution of a well-drawn map, and the I raining in careful attention to detail necessitated by such work must he an advantage that can hardly ho-( overlooked. All concerned in (he production and exhibition of such a fine display T of work in the school sections arc to he congratulated. on the advance made since last year.