If our old art schools were to be criticised because they made too much use of the imitative method when they strove to give to their students information and appreciation and feeling for form and line thru coyping historic ornament, it would seem, from results obtained, both, tangible and in the effect upon the pupils, that our modern schools are open to criticism when they seek to force, originality upon immature minds before they have given these minds any information or feeling.

Of course grammar school boys are not interested in historic ornament, at least not in America. This is the weakness of the imitative method and helped to bring in the movement which now seems to have swung to the opposite extreme—it lacks vitality for young pupils. Instead of giving the boy historic fragments, give him a form that is vitally interesting to him because he sees its immediate application in the thing that is to be made in wood. Let him play with this form combining imitation and modification and creation just as far as he is able.

Make the problem concrete, stating the principles you have to state in a language the boy can understand. There will not be time to bring out every principle that might be involved in design. There must be time to bring out those involved in the particular problem under discussion. Balance and symmetry, for illustration, are pretty well understood by the boy in the simple form in which he will have occasion to use them.

Take as an illustration the bookrack, Fig. 7. To present such a problem we would place upon the blackboard the blank forms as shown, also the decorative form as shown.

The lesson immediately divides itself into two parts for consideration: (1) The Construction, (2) The Decoration. Under the subject of Construction our normal school notes would suggest the following points to be brought up: Use, Construction, Decoration; Requirements of

Fig. 7. TEACHING DESIGN IN THE PROBLEM OF THE BOOK RACK.

Utility; Limitations of Materials and Processes; Proportions of Parts and Details; Harmony of Parts and Details; Points of Force; Construction as Decoration. (According to Payne.) Under Decoration: Supporting Outline; Center of Interest; Symmetry; Repetition; Radiation; Rythm; Contrast; Proportion in Curves; Proportion in Spaces; Unity; Subordinate Centers of Interest; Balance.

Taking these in their natural order, but without making much ado about the "framework," the shop man who has made some study of the principles involved can call the boys' attention to the most important points:

(1) The construction. Since the shopwork is to be carried on by class instruction and not individually, it will be necessary to limit the joint or joints used to those specified for the Group in which the project is to be worked out. Joints of previous Groups may be used also. The book rack will be made in Group VII. Some form of the groove joint is to be used, none other.

Here we call attention to the difference between the designer and the shop man in their handling of the problem. The discussion of construction gives the designer an opportunity to display the possibilities of his subject. He enumerates all the joints that may be used with propriety in making such a piece as the bookrack, and the pupils are encouraged to make use of as many varieties as possible. He is totally oblivious of the fact that, while this is good teaching in design, it is making the applications impossible except with individual instruction -a method of instruction that may be used in small school systems but not in cities.

(2) The manner of placing the members and the use to which the rack is to be put will together determine the proportions of the members.

(3) For decoration, we might depend entirely upon the good form of the outline and the stain and grain of the wood. With this particular piece, however, we shall make use of a decorative form which will be outlined or incised and colored with a dye.

(4) Since the design is to be made in wood and wood splits easily along the grain, we must be careful in making an outline not to get sharp points. Also, in making a decorative design we must avoid thin parts that will bring incised lines close together. Also, we must take into account in planning the members the facts of shrinkage or swelling and the strength of the wood. The grain on the vertical members must extend vertically and that of the horizontal member must extend from vertical member to vertical member. This to be illustrated by referring to some similar construction.

(5) In striving for pleasing outlines, or decorative forms either, strive to avoid a sameness made by using many lines or forms of the same size. "Large, medium and small" is a key that unlocks many a puzzle as to what causes unpleasant feelings in both outline and decoration. Long sweeping curves with short snappy ones, rather than a series made with a compass. Make a special point of the fact, which almost every boy overlooks, that the simple forms of outline are invariably the more pleasing. To the beginner design means making something unlike anything that was ever seen on the earth below or heaven above - hence the freakish, fussy forms that are usually offered. Try telling the class you are going to place an excellent form on the board then draw a well proportioned oblong and watch the expressions on their faces. Yet a well proportioned oblong with appropriate decorative form is one of the most pleasing of forms. There will be no need to urge them to make "unique" forms. Their inexperience and their zeal will produce a sufficient number. Rather urge, or insist that they postpone search for "unique" form until they have more information.

Illustrate with blackboard sketches as you go along each of these points. Keep the boys "playing" with outline forms until you have assured yourself they have done their best. With them, pick out three of the best and place these in permanent form for keeping - put them on another sheet of paper. Next, start them on the decoration. The development of a decorative form will come much harder than the outline. Here again the beginner will want to exhibit "unique" forms - unique only in that they are founded upon his ignorance. Unless the boy is not a beginner, it will be necessary in about twenty-four out of every twenty-five cases to insist that he start with the form you have placed upon the board for his use. If you were dealing with a few pupils, you might take his "original" form and step by step get him to work it into a good form. With large classes this is not possible, nor is it necessary. Simply insist that he place the form given him in his outline and in so doing he will acquire enough feeling for line and form to enable him to proceed of his own accord. (6) Have the boy put on a supporting outline, that is, tell him to draw a line around his outline and parallel to it. Show the class on the blackboard how this is to be done.

(7) Put in the main mass and break it up explaining as you do so that you are seeking to get large, medium and small forms-proportion of parts. Call attention to the efforts made to keep the lines in harmony.

(8) Call attention to the center of interest you have created. It is unfortunate that lack of time forbids the boy's placing colors on these designs. Very frequently a touch of color is used to create a center of interest, the form for this in black and white not giving the proper significance at all. A design which in outline seems to be fussy because of too many parts will, by a proper selection and placing of colors, be made most pleasing. On the other hand, a design in outline that seems agreeable may, when in color, not be agreeable because the colors make certain parts stand out too prominently. A study of the color plate in Projects for Beginning Woodwork and Mechanical Drawing will make this clear.

(9) If the form proposed happens to illustrate repetition, radiation, symmetry, or if some boy develops a form that does, take time to say a word about them. While you will not have time to "teach design" in the few lessons, a word here and there may serve to awaken further interest on the part of some boy.

After all is said, we recognize that the time is short, that not much can be done. On the other hand, what little can be done is worth doing and doing well; its possible significance can not be overestimated.