New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-18
CHANGES ~ SCHOOLlARDS.
FAIRGROUNDS CT OTHER DAYS HAVE BE
CONE RFArTIFUI. FLOWER GARDENS.

rbo trend NJ tr9ininy 81 the young for the pa It
decade has been as much toward the development
OF the aesthetic SIDE OF chld's nature as toward
the purely mental qualities No possible COM
parison can he made az regards the old and the
new curriculum Of The schools The five year-ol1
no longer phnsas at into the slough OF learn
irg 70 b. dragged through by main force, bit
9dvanoes by almost impercept bic degrees from the
play OF the Kindergarten to the carefully gradual
urinary classes The buildings themselves have
progressed from bare wcather-beaten barns -
models OF modern archi .ccturc. But probably the
most surprising change OF all. ono that cXceis
every other Innovation Is TIE tranforma ton OF the
schoolyards
I.p 70 within a short period the yard place
10 play in pure and simple. Scores Of active feet
playing prisoners base" tag" or leap frog"
ene,.ally prevented even the most hardy blades
% grass from coming 10 maturity, and flowers were
an unthouglt-of decoration. ! was nos deemed
possible FOR them 10 be allowed To- I've ruthless
were the pupils.
Arhor Day formed a wedge FOR Tho nrsi beauti.
f,lng Of the yard. Ia many schools he different
classes planted tree or shrub every May. and
the interest OF The pupils was aroused in trying
to keep IL alive. \ friendly rivalry arose between
classes and the sapiinss were watched with eager
ness and tended with care Ivy was planted about
the building. aud It's luxurious shoJts carefully
hid the unsignty walls.
Little by little the desire for Improvement was
awakened IN the breasts OF The scholars. and the
outcoIne o. this e-re H. truly renal kabc. L.
would be well worth The time spent To- visit on
OF in- suburban towns OF inc great civ for tn
express purpos. ~ seeing ne beauty OF the school
wards In toxin there are over two thousand
children in eight buildngs SIX years ago the
yards We're bare and unsishtly and stray flowers
were at once picked. NoN th" buildings ale SUI
rounded hy grr"r layuf. dotted with nower-h-d.
WHERE s-rgnumS aud other bright-hued flowers
make vivid spots Of colo..
Ity craWls W the walls ~ TIA. houses and fine
trees cas- q grateful shade 0U an slides Stress
must be laid the fact that this condition lasts
nor only during scnoOltime but through the
months OF vacation. 'hildrcn play I'm the yards.
but never touch the plants. and the simple reason
for this il that al consider that they have
% proprietary right Ia the blossoms They have
watched them grow. end are oaser for their yard
to look pretty the others in tho town. one
school I'm particular ie situated I'm on" OF the
parts ~ this particular ioNn YET all through tho
summer months the flowers have hlossomed un-
harmed. guarded by vAtchful children. Nho wouh
heartily resent any infring men. on what they re-
gard - their property.
~ coUrs'. thi- development Of tho lde- of heaufv
has spn1ps raj tol! limited scope Vet Re
rord frn small radius 81 th, sunuf ban towns IN
idea not penetrated. save in rare Instances.
The country schools arc n NAM Instances idou-
firal with those ~ twenty years ago But Nh
tho steadily increasing education - the teScher
me educ ALTON Of tins pupils VIII grow u9on eoue
A,lHa@S Inca