DOI issue:
No. 330 (September 1920)
DOI article:Whitley, William Thomas: The Central School of Arts and Crafts
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21401#0070
THE CENTRAL SCHOOL OF ARTS AND CRAFTS
"FAUNS." AQUATINT
BY SIDNEY LONG
that it is in many ways a good thing,
both for the craftsman and the amateur,
that they should work side by side at
the bench. Therefore he admits the
amateur, if—but only if—he is capable
and keen. The same qualifications are
demanded of every candidate for ad-
mission, and numbers are rejected on
the ground of insufficient preliminary
training. These splendidly equipped
workshops are not for beginners (except
in the case of the boys who work in the
day technical schools) but for those who
have already mastered the elements and
come to Southampton Row to increase
their knowledge. Over and over again
the Principal has to tell prospective
students that the specimens they bring
him are not good enough, and to advise
them to go back to the schools in which
they have been working and come to
him again in six months' or a year's time.
And for the students who are admitted
there must be no slackening of effort.
The object of the Principal and the
instructors in all the crafts is to bring
out the latent qualities of their pupils,
and if the pupils show signs of incapacity
to develop, or lack of interest in their
work, they may find that the Central
School has no further use for them.
Mr. Burridge has the power of selection,
and he would like, if it were possible,
to control the leaving of the pupils as
well as their admission ; to forbid them
to apply for posts as craftsmen until he
was sure that they were properly trained.
This desire must be common to every
conscientious teacher of crafts, for it is
injurious to the reputation of training
classes generally for an immature student
to apply for an engagement on the strength
of crude designs and imperfect specimens
of workmanship. The manufacturer,
when he looks at them and hears that
their author is the product of some well-
54
"FAUNS." AQUATINT
BY SIDNEY LONG
that it is in many ways a good thing,
both for the craftsman and the amateur,
that they should work side by side at
the bench. Therefore he admits the
amateur, if—but only if—he is capable
and keen. The same qualifications are
demanded of every candidate for ad-
mission, and numbers are rejected on
the ground of insufficient preliminary
training. These splendidly equipped
workshops are not for beginners (except
in the case of the boys who work in the
day technical schools) but for those who
have already mastered the elements and
come to Southampton Row to increase
their knowledge. Over and over again
the Principal has to tell prospective
students that the specimens they bring
him are not good enough, and to advise
them to go back to the schools in which
they have been working and come to
him again in six months' or a year's time.
And for the students who are admitted
there must be no slackening of effort.
The object of the Principal and the
instructors in all the crafts is to bring
out the latent qualities of their pupils,
and if the pupils show signs of incapacity
to develop, or lack of interest in their
work, they may find that the Central
School has no further use for them.
Mr. Burridge has the power of selection,
and he would like, if it were possible,
to control the leaving of the pupils as
well as their admission ; to forbid them
to apply for posts as craftsmen until he
was sure that they were properly trained.
This desire must be common to every
conscientious teacher of crafts, for it is
injurious to the reputation of training
classes generally for an immature student
to apply for an engagement on the strength
of crude designs and imperfect specimens
of workmanship. The manufacturer,
when he looks at them and hears that
their author is the product of some well-
54