In 1870 an enlightened state of Massachusetts passed the Drawing Act, mandating drawing instruction in public schools. Walter Smith, an Englishman trained at the South Kensington School and drawing master at Leeds prior to coming to Massachusetts, was hired in dual posts as state director of education and director of Massachusetts Normal Art School. The Normal Art School trained teachers to teach drawing and it later became the Massachusetts College of Art. In the past few decades, unfortunately, art has taken a back seat in the curriculums of most public schools.
I mention this to commend the group, For Art’s Sake, for not only making an effort to bring art back to Harvard’s schools, but also for providing a venue for our town’s artists to exhibit their work in last month’s “Made in Harvard” show. A show like that takes much time and planning and I’m sure every artist who participated joins me in thanking those who helped with the show, particularly Pam Cochrane, Bess Haire, and Melissa Yahia.
Carol Panek-Clark
Old Littleton Road
