The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-04-20
TREE PLANTING DAY.
Observed by Corvallis Schools
With Appropriate
Exercises.

Owing to the inclemency of the
weather the usual out door exer-
cises which characterize the OBJ
servance of Arbor day, was dis
pensed with, and. although the
rain was pouring down in torrents,
this did not deter the little ones
from assembling in the public
school building last Friday after
noon where two hours was pleas
an,ly spent with recitations, songs
and other ceremonies in keeping
with the OCCASION. Recently
State School Superintendent Nc
Elroy sent circular letters to
teachers throughout the state call
ing their attention to the fact
that Arbor day had proved an eX-
cellent educational agent i'll many
particulars.
He notes that it has awakened
among all cla,ses-chlldren, teach
ers, parents and people in general
"a greater appreciation of the
value of trees. Greater interest
and cooperation Oh the part of
parents has been secured, and in
many instances special and valu-
able results have been obtained
in the organization of local clubs
for the preservation and extension
of Oregon's famous forests. School
children have been encouraged by
their parents and teachers to i'm
prove and beautiiy the school
grounds, and to care for school
property in general. 1t has had
a tendency to check the extensive
and destructive fires which annu-
ally sweep large areas OF the finest
forests in the world, those Of the
Coast mountains, Cascade range
and Blue mountains Of eastern
Oregon. - ,.~.1
= The act which requires the Oh
servance of Arbor day was ap-
proved by Governor .Pennoyer,
February Is, 1889, and is as
follows:
"SEcT1oN THE second Friday, in the
afternoon, in April of each year, shall here.
after be known throughout this state as Ar.
Dor day.
''SEC. Pin order that the children in
our public schools shall assist in the work
of adorning the school grounds with trees
and to stimulate the minds of children
toward the benefits of the preservation and
perpetuation of our forests and the growing
of timber, it shall be the duty of the au-
thorities in every public school district in
this state to assemble the pupils in their
charge on the above day in the school build
ing, or elsewhere as they may deem proper,
and to provide for and conduct under the
general supervision of city uperintendents,
teachers and directors, or other school au-
thorities having the general charge and
oversight of the public schools in each city
or district, to have and hold such exercises
or shall tend to encourage the planting,
protection and preservation of trees and
shrubs, and an acquaintance with the best
methods to be adopted to accomplish such
results.
''SEc 3-The superintendent of public
instruction shall, from year to year, under
aud by direction of the state board of edu-
cation, have power to prescribe from time
to time a course of exercises and lnstruc-
tion in the subjects hereinbefore stated,
which shall be adopted and observed by the
said public school authorities OIL Arbor day.
.'SEc 4-As this is matter of great i'm
portance to the public schools of the state,
this act shall be 10 force from aDd after its
approval by the governor"
The scholars, teachers and
friends and patrons of the school
gathered in the lower hallway of
the public school building at 1870
D. m. ,''Old Glory" was floating
to the breeze overhead and the
festoons of evergreens, profusion
of wild flowers and potted plants,
and the holiday attire of the
children gave to the scene the ap-
pearance of a regular May day
picnic in full blast. On no SINH
lar occasion in the past has the
building presented so beautiful an
appearance as on the day in ques-
ton, and at no time has the pub
lie been better entertained than
on the day in question. The ex
ercises began with music by the
seventh grade, "Song of Dedi.
| cation" and was well received
Lillian Friendly followed with q
recitation, "Planting the Apple
Tree" which was excellent. Ther
the little mldgets from the firs1
| grade recited in concert "The Lit
tie Runaways'' in a manner that
| would have done credit to fal
older scholars. A recitation
s'Lottie's Tree Talk" by Lucy