Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-05-23
SCHOOL GROUNDS.


proportion of the children of this country
spend at least half of the hours of day
light. for five days of the week, in or about
the school-house At the most suScepti-
ble period of life the influence Of these
surroundings must in the aggregate be
considerable. \ neat and tidy room, with
simple and cheerful decorations, will be
a constant object lesson to the eye. y
room with decrepit furniture upon an
unclean floor. and with walls and ceiling
broken and stained, will teach its lesson,
too. in taste and morals but 1t Will be
quite a different one. 1t is due to the
health of children that they be supplied
with abundant light and air. This means
detached building, with ample open
space about it, even in the city.
Exercise is also essential to the healthy
development as we'll as tothe happiness of
children, and play is the natural and spon-
taneous exercise and refreshment for both
their minds and bodies. \ playground
NAV, therefore, be considered necessary
adjunct to every school Children will
play wherever they have room, but 1t Will
hardly be argued that bare space OF
earth, which will be dusty or muddy as
the weather changes offers every adVan-
tage that children should be able to derive
from their school grounds. If the school
room can be made to give lessons in clean
illness and order and taste, the surround
ings Of the building should be arranged
to enforce the same lessons.
That properly ordered school grounds
can aid in this direction, and, besides this,
be made an important educational auXll-
I :,,u In hr.a1N n4 rlq
was the thesis of an interesting paper
read two months ago before the MaSsa-
chusetts Horticultural Society by Mr..
Leverett NJ Chase, Master of the Dudley
School. in ROXbury. Mr.. Chase argued
! that the ideal school ground should be
separated into two distinct portions one
devoted TO the purposes of an outdoor
gymnasium, and the other an area of
greensward, properly planted with trees,
shrubs. vines in short, pleasure garden
for the children They should be taught
that the garden is theirs, and feeling OF
responsibility for it should be encouraged.
That this sense of ownership will engen-
der such a personal interest that the eXu-
berant deStructiYeneSS so often manifest
ed by school boys will give place to SEN
timent of affection. and desire TO pro-
tect their shrubs and flowers has been
proved in many instances. If the plants
are all carefully labeled and catalOgued:
| if the children are invited to aid III culti-
waiting them. under proper direction, they
will gain much practical information as
to the laws of plant growth, and If serl-
Gus attempt at systematic instruction IN
certain branches of botany is connected
with the care of the grounds, many les
sonS which it would be an iIkSOme task
to acquire otherwise, will be learned with
out effort, and even with positive delight.
From the knowledge thus gained, and the
interest aroused in the school garden, we
NAV reasonably look for a growing love
of nature-an increasing appreciation OF
the beauty of trees and their value.
If this generation of children were rear
ed under such influences ours would be
land of fair gardens in a quarter of a cen
tuTy, and there would be no difficulty in
securing proper legislation for the presef-
vation of our forests. Indeed, it is to be
feared that diStinctively American for
est policy. which shall embrace in its scope
the wiseSt administration of the nations
forests and the most intelligent care Of the
farmers wOOd-lot, will never be adopted
until the interest and sympathy OF the
children are enlisted SO that they will
grow up with sound views and generous
sentiments as to the importance of trees
and forests as an element of national vel
fare.
OF course, grounds sufficiently spacious
for a garden can not now be found con-
nected with every school building, and i'll
crowded cities large school gardens will
not be practicable. But there is room for
a beginning everywhere. A narrow bor
der along the foundation of the school
house may be made beautiful with flow
ers from the time when the snOwdrops
appear until frost kills the latest aSter.-
There are few school yards where place
can not be found for some tree or shrub,
or where vine can not be trained 50 as
to show It's own beauty and hide some I'M
slightly object. At all events, some house
plants can be used TO brighten the school
room and to illustrate by living examples
the elementary facts in botany and hOr
ticulture. One disadvantage Will be that
the teachers and Trustees who must take
the lead in this enterprise know so little
themselves of the subjects in which 1t is
proposed TO interest the children. The
beginnings of this reform-fOr a genuine
reform it viii be-Will be feeble, and much
honest effort will be misdirected. I'm
suitable trees and Sin ubS will be often Sc
lecu6u, anu uney VIII Oe Ddu'S PlduItu Ill
improper places. But the very fact that
the lack of knowledge on these points is
so lamentable is the strongest reason that
a beginning should be made. The attempt
will excite inquiry and criticism, and
knowledge will come from the study and
discussion thus aroused. Fortunate are
those places already provided with teach
ers like Mr. Cha.,e and Mr.. EndicOtt, mas
ter of the Gibson school in Dorchester,
who, at the meeting above mentioned, ad
ded some valuable testimony to the sound
ness of the positions taken in Mr.. ChaSe'S
paper.
4 final suggestion made by Mr Chase is
worth considering in other States as well
as in Massachusetts. 1t was that prizes
be offered FOR the best kept and most
taStefully embelliSbed school grounds.
PROTECT THE CANALS