The Delta independent., 1900-10-05
CHILDREN'S GARDENS.
SUEBLO PEOPLE TRY Al Exc
PERiMENT.
Elowsrs and Vegetables T. hs ths FloeO -
Books With Little Foiks-Populsr ooh
kuce~ssfuI

Pueblo this summer Las lla,t Gndses
.artens that are real 'aild snrdenA
Plots OF ground for the cultivation q
riowers and vegetables lave taken the
place of school rUoms and hoes ana
rakes have served as edueati"nal ap-
paratus. The idea Is novel. although
a direct application OF the teaclinSs OF
Froebel. ard il has .een complete
success.
The plan originated with Superfn-
tendent J. F. Keatins Among the ad.
vantages that led &c its adoption are
the following: The .ardens AFFORD an
excellent opportunity for bringing city
children into close ouch With nature
during the growing season u the year.
BY this plan the ioLs yacatsCh Is put in
the winter months when 1t is difficult
for very young cltldren to get TO th5
school buildings. IN the summer gar
dens. too, the children are kept under
the watchful eyes Of their teachers
at a period of the year when many of:
them are usually allowed TO run wilds
and entirely without the restraint oC
home or school Influences.
Summer kintiersartens have been
conducted this year at three schools In
Pueblo. Near each there Is q small
garden where bowers 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- general space in which
all were interested. Work In TIE gar
dens took ~ the children's tfnse BE-
tween Q and IL 30 O'Clock In the morn
ing. when Il was cool. Games anA lighe
work indoors occupied the afternoons.
For the Individual plots eath child was
given two or three vegetables such A.
corn, beans and cabeages- They
were provided with watering cans and
tauGbt how to use garde8 easls in keep
ing the ground in cO13lliNn. Their at :
taAaion vas also cnibeIt TO the staGeA
il the life of a plant frosa seed to seed
again. They made drawings Of leaves,
trees and birds aa4k tAe best Of thsseS
drawing they Wsxe allowed As sP1e-
ctal reward to e0lox with water ce3ors.
In the plots cultivated in common there
was . wide variety Of plant lae-let-
tuce, radixAss, potatoes. squash. cab
bage, wasesmelOns. canteloapex and
peanuts. besides the nowess. In the
| latter part Of the summer the lunches
| Of The children were provided In .
larRo measure from the produce OF the
| Rardsns and in some Instances the veg
! etabses were sold for their commoa
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-
er1ble scale. -
At Arst the idea Of 4 garden school
was not well received. especially BY
the foreigner, Who make up = large
part Of the population at the stees
works and smelters, but the~e people
gradually became its most enthusiastio
supporters. The benefits Of these sum.
mef kinderEartens have % plainly
| demonstrated themselves that they
have passed beyond the experimental
stage and it has beea decided BY the
school board to make them . regular
thing each year. The plan has attract
| ed the attention Of educators In other
nAr{s Of the country and II Is believed
will meet with general adoption,