La Junta tribune., 1900-10-06
CHlLDREN'S GARDENS.
PUEBLO PEOPLE try AN Ex.
PERTINENT.
.1lSvsss aaa Vegetables Take the Fiaes s1
Dssks with, Little foiks-PspaiAr aaa
DnDoeasful

Pueblo this summer has had kinder
} 9nrtens that are real child Gardena
Plots Of ground for the cultivation Of
flowers and vegetables have taken the
place Of school rooms and hoes and
rnkes have served as educational ap-
paratus- The Idea Is novel. although
a direct application of the teachipgs OF
Froebel. and 1t has been a complete
success
The plan originated with Superin-
tendent J. +. KeatinS. Among the ad-
vantagcs that led TO Its adoption are
/, the following: The gardens afford an
excellent opportunity for bringing city
children into close touch with nature
during the growing season of the year.
By this plan the long vacation is put in
the winter months when It is difficult
for very young children to get to the
school buildings. In the summer gar
dens, too, the children are kept under
the watchful eyes Of their teachers
Mt q period of the year when many Of
them are usually allowed to run wild
and entirely without the restraint Of
home or school Influences.
Summer kindergartens have been
conducted this year at three schools in
Pueblo. Near each there is small
: garden where flowers and vegetables
were grown by the children under the
direction of their teachers. In most
cases each child had an Individual plot
in addition to a general space In which
all were interested. Work in the gar
dens took up the children's time be-
tween 8 and IL 30 o'clock In the morn
ing, when II was cool. Games and light
work indoors occupied the afternoons.
For the individual plots each child was
given two or three vegetables. such as
Hnr nd 1,tx 1,nv
were provided with watering cans and
taught how to use garden tools in Keep
ing the ground In condition. Their at-
tention was also called to the stages
An the life Of u plant from seed to seed
assin. They made drawings of leaves.
trees and birds and the best Of these
drawing they were allowed rs a spe-
cial reward to color with water colors.
In the plots cultivated in common there
was q wide variety OF plant life-let-
tuce, radishes, potatoes, squash. cab
bagc, waternelons, canteloupes and
peanuts, besides the flowers. In the
latter part OF the summer the lunches
of the children were provided in a
large measure from the produce OF the
gardens and In some instances the veg
etahles were sold for their common
benefit. Excursions to large farms near
the city were arranged from time to
time during the summer and the chill
dren were delighted to see their little
operations repeated on a more consid-
cradle scale.
At first the idea of a garden school
was not well received. especially by
the foreigners, who make up large
part Of the population at the steel
works and smelters, but these people
gradually became Its most enthusiastic
supporters. The benefits Of these sum-
mer kindefgnrtens have 30 plainly
demonstrated themselves that they
have passed beyond the experimental
Stage and It has been decided by tho
school board to make them . regular
thing each year. The plan has attract
ed the attention Of educators In other
parts Of the country and 1t Is believed
will meet with general adoption.
what was the matter with that mo-
torman they brought 70 the hospital? e
passengers had been punching him with