The record-union., 1898-03-06
OBSERVANCE OF ARBOR DAY.
EXERCISES HELD IN COUNTRY
DISTRICTS.
An Object Lesson That Can be
Made Useful to the Younger
Generation.

In compliance with the circular sent
out by County Superintendent of
Schools Howard recommending that
February 25th be observed as Arbor
Day by the country schools. and trees
and shIubbery planted to beautify the
school premises. number Of the dis
tricts held Arbor Day exercises and
carried out the suggestion. The teach
ers of several schools have sent to Su-
perintendent Howard the programmes.
as follows:
CARROLL HISTRICT.
Carroll District, Miss Nellie G.. Smith
teacher, had the following exercises:
Song. Welcome; recitation. The
Voice of the Grass; concert recitation,
Spring. from Sir LaunfaI'; song,
Mill May: recitation, "You' (yew);
recitation, How the Violets Come;
recitation, Were There No Trees; re-
citation, The Treebuds''; song,
SPRING; remarks, by Mrs. H. D.
Owen
CENTER DISTRICT.
n In Center District, Mrs. Effie Hender-
son teacher, the programme was as fol-
flows:
Reading, THE Story of the Little
Maple; song, Just Behind the
Times: concert recitation with mo-
ticns). by two; reading, THE Legend
Of the China Lily; quotations contain
ing name of flower or suggestion Of
one; reading, The Flowers Good
Night; song, America.
ELDER CREEK
T11tJ
der Greek, Miss Clara Fountain
teacher:
..Arbor Day" Howard Morris; song,
'Good-By to Winter" by the school;
'Arbor Day a Necessity" Alfred Og-
den: Talking in Their Sleep" Paul
Thaler, Howard Morris and Hazel Os-
walt; when Arbor Day Was First
: Kept" Annie NJ Davies; Listening
to the Trees Ralph Jackson; song,
"Spring. Is Coming" by the school;
E"The Vine and the Tree. Ethel Smith;
..The' Bluebird's Song" Willie McNair;
song, "A Call to the Dandelions." Heel
J and Anne Davies: The Promise ha-
zel Oswalt; song, ASK the Children"
Z by the school: The Secret" Wallace
! Ogden; Cur Schoolroom Is a Garden.
Ernest McNair, Ray Smith, George
; Holmes, Harry Smith and Alfred Nor
ris; "A Fable" Paul Thaler; When
We Plant a Tree" Hazel Davies; Pine
4 Needles Ethel Smith; The Planting,
i Earl Davies and Hazel Oswalt; What
He Plants Who Plants Tree" Arnold
Morris and Halle Oswalt: This Little
Tree and l." Owen Davies.
MoKELUMNE DISTRICT.
At Mokelunne District, Miss Annie
! McLanahan teacher, the programme
was as follows:
Spring song" by the school; recita-
ton. The Squirrels Trees; compost
: ton, Some Interesting Trees; recita-
tion, The Oak: recitation. Mamma
Willows Babies; motion Song, See
the Trees All in a Row.; recitation,
THE Apple Tree; concert recitation,
The Woodland Trees"
There were number of other dis
tricts that had exercises. but their re-
ports have not yet reached Superin-
oJendent Howard.
A. TEACHERS VIEWS.
Mrs. Clara Parsons, Principal of Capt.
tol Primary School. who has always
had her pupils observe Arbor Day,
writes to the Record Union as fol-
lows on tie subject of its Observance:
.'Arbor Dav is now a regular institu-
ton in nearly every State III the Union.
From a small beginning in 1872 ii has
grown to be a part of the school calen-
dar in many places. 1t has its infiuence
as a practical factor in the beautifying
Of the yards and streets about the
school building, but best Of all will be
the impetus given by il TO the study of
nature.
The very fact that once every year
the youth of our country may prepare
for day devoted TO trees' Will arouse
them to observe and ask questions on
this subject. II would seem 10 chill
dren like helping the summer glories'
TO come sooner TO plant trees and be a
oo-worker in the field of nature. and it
VIII certainly be stimulant to moral
growth.
The recognition of Arbor Day will
make the country visibly more beauti-
ful year by year, and t.ye school chill
dren will be put in the way of living
on more friendly terms with nature
One OF the educating forces Of Arbor
Day begins when children are thus led
to plant rot only trees but tree seeds,
acorns. nuts or pits, and then 10 OBJ
serve the wonderful miracle which the
tree-kfe they have started is working
out before them-their marvellous as
similating power, carrying on such a
chemistry in their underground labora-
tory
, tChildren in the lowest primary grade
are not too young TO understand few
facts connected with the utility side OF
this subject, such as trees affect the
climate Of a country; trees influence
the rain Of a country: trees build UP
a wall and protect the farmers crop;
trees keep the air pure.
These are but few of the facts. but
they are enough to call our the ethical
side Of Arbor Day. Children. through
the observance Of Arbor Day. viii learn
a. annraciate the santi,,,.,. ana ..nl,,a