ON CHARTS AND PICTURES FOR USE IN SCHOOLS. 377 
of pictures for school decoration, the exhibits in which, apart from the few excellent 
FitzRoy pictures, were almost entirely of German origin. The object of this 
exhibition was to call attention to the need for improvement in British work, but our 
publishers, failing to understand the warning intended to be conveyed by the 
exhibition, unfortunately only saw in it an advertisement of German enterprise. 
‘Various movements have been recently set on foot in this country for the con- 
sideration of the whole subject, with a view to replacing the existing supply with 
material which should be more carefully thought out and of a higher standard. The 
Victoria League, for example, arranged some time ago for an exhibition of Medici 
prints in the Dominions, towards which the Medici Society and the Senefelder Club 
gave valuable assistance; and the Board of Education has been for a long time 
considering the educational possibilities of such a movement. Whilst, however, each 
of these movements was doing its own specific work, it became more and more clear 
that steps should be taken to co-ordinate them, and, more especially, to carry out 
certain preliminary work which was essential if the best results were to be obtained. 
As a preliminary, it was desirable to effect some sort of co-operation between the 
principal bodies interested in the subject, if possible from the commercial as well as 
from the official side. It was, of course, necessary in this respect that care should be 
taken to avoid any interference with commercial susceptibilities or trade competition, 
but it was felt that in such a matter as this the trade would recognise the importance 
of obtaining official guidance and advice both as to standard of work and character 
of subject. 
‘In order to obtain the best results it was desirable that the question should be 
approached from the technical and artistic as well as from the educational stand- 
point, and that, if possible, a series of experiments should be made in co-operation 
with the best authorities on these points, and that the results should be published 
as a guide both to educational authorities and also to commercial firms. It was felt 
that the subject was worthy to enlist the co-ordinated efforts of all the best-trained 
intelligences that could be brought to bear upon it, so that, when the experimental 
stage was passed, the results might be put at the disposal of the trade, to serve at 
once as a guide and a stimulus to their production. For the purposes of the 
experimental stage, the London County Council, with their wide educational 
experience and their admirably equipped Central School of Arts and Crafts, was 
obviously best fitted to undertake the work, and in the summer of 1917 they accord- 
ingly appointed a special Advisory Committee to consider the matter.’ 
The London County Council Advisory Committee had six pictures on the subjects 
shown below painted by artists and executed at the Central School of Arts and 
Crafts. 
Lambeth Palace. Print illustrating the use of the Breast Plough. 
Stirling Castle. Reproduction of Old Map of Tower of London. 
Mountain Scene. A Scene in the Docks. 
These pictures have been in use in the schools experimentally, and the general 
opinion of the head teachers who were consulted is that they are suitable for school 
work and could usefully be employed for that purpose. Unfortunately, little interest 
has been shown by British publishers in the movement, and, having regard to the 
present financial stringency, the London County Council has decided to discontinue 
the research. The work of the Advisory Committee has been most valuable in 
demonstrating that auto-lithographs can be produced in this country at a price 
which would justify English publishers entering into competition with other countries. 
Before the war the London County Council issued a classified list of framed 
pictures which have been approved for school use, and arranged for the display of 
specimen copies of these pictures at the Education Offices. This list is now, however, 
out of date, and present trade conditions, so far as the publication of school pictures 
is concerned, have rendered it impossible to issue a revised list. 
It is of interest to note that industrial engineering is given prominence in this 
year’s exhibition of the Royal Academy, and the day may soon come when other 
branches of science may be accepted as fit subjects for the work of future exhibitors. 
An exhibition of maps, pictures, and charts illustrating modern methods of 
History teaching was organised by Prof. F. J. C. Hearnshaw at King’s College, 
London, in July 1914, and the catalogue can still be referred to. Prof. Hearnshaw 
also contributed an excellent article on Historical Pictures to the School World for 
July 1910, 
1921 DD 
