Date unknown, approximately 1933: The Brooklyn Ethical culture School is holding an Exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum of the work done by the pupils of the school. There will be a preview and tea on Wednesday, April 26th. The mothers of the school children, under the chairmanship of Mrs. J. Joseph, are to be hostesses. The exhibition will be open to the public Thursday, April 27th and will remain on view through Thursday, May 11th.
The work has been done by pupils of the Brooklyn Ethical Culture School, 49 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn. The grades rep¬resented are from the kindergarten through the 8th grade and the work shown represents a part of the regular curriculum of the school. Following the advanced-technique teaching in this school, each pupil has at least three periods a week of work in art and crafts and he is privileged to do more if he so desires. The school does not specialize entirely in arts and crafts nor are the children whose work is shown here gifted more than any ordinary child, According to a statement made by the school director, Mrs, Henry Neumann, calls attention to the fact that the work in regular school subjects ranks far above the average as measured by achievement tests given by public and private schools throughout the country.
In the crafts section of the exhibition there is a surprising range of media - wood, pewter, wrought iron, copper and combination of the materials. One of the most interesting exhibits in the group is a large collection of terra-cotta figurines in rich glazes executed entirely by the children as is shown by the naive, though charming, subject matter of the exhibits. Attractive also is a collection of hand wrought pewter, it is explained that no attempt is made to give to these articles a finish beyond the capabilities of child intellect. The exhibition in a general way shows how the citizens of the future can be trained in the profitable use of the leisure time which the shorter work day will bring them.
The Brooklyn Ethical culture School has existed for many years in Brooklyn and, together with other private or progressive schools like it, is an experimental station in advanced pedagogy based on the newer psychology.
Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1916 - 1930. 04-06_1933, 038.
