Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-07-07
SCHOOL GROUNDS.
They should Br Made Attractive
With Trees and shrubs

Lhey ShOuIu bf hDue Attractive
with Trees and shrubs.
Rural schoolhouScs frequently stand,
small and weather beaten, beside the
country road. Many of them look
about as they did - or 30 years ago al
though they have Il flag above them
now which was not there when the
men of today We're children.
How familiar the grounds about the
quarter of an acre of land selected pos
Eibly because it was good for little else
not tree to offer Il hands breadth of
shade or Il shrub or vine to break the
monOtOny or to hide the unSghtly out
buildings.
1t is the most tremendously signiG-
cant thing in the whole history OF the
United States. 1t is the cradle of Amer
lean education, the nursery which has
always foStcrcd and still fosters the
national doctrine of equal rights for all.
Under its roof the judges son and
the cobblCrs boy fare alike and grow
up to know and respect each other
Men whose only educational Hdvan-
tagcs were Il few years on thee. rude
benches have won success i'll every de-
partment of human activity. At a
gathering of about 300 successful bust
ness and professional men of promi-
nent city it was ascertaincd that about
nine-tcnths came from the country.
Is it, then, unreasonable to urge that
the rural school grounds be made more
attractive by the planting of trees and
shrubs? With little expense the bare
ground about the building can be con-
vertcd into n place of beauty. The
pupils themselves, with the aid Of
teachers and friends, can do it. Is it not
a work we'll worth undertaking? The
Youths Companion believes that it Is.
Moreover, it believes that the growth
Of the imagination and the artistic ma
ture will result; that the finer senses
will be developed and the character Of
those who do the work will he
strengthened; that a love of the bcauti-
full will be impaired which will last
through life and manifest itself in the
homes which these pupils shall build in
future years.
The Youths Companion believes that
this work of adjoining the grounds Of
rural SchOOlhouSeS is one which will
exercise an important and lasting in
flucnce for the good of the national
life.
From almost every rural school have
gone forth into the world men and wo-
men who have won success in life. We
are very sure that many of these, if
they We're made acquainted with your
plans, would be glad to share with the
pupils of today in the honor and pleas
ure of embcllishing the grounds of the
old Schoolhouses.
Arbor day will be a most appropriate
time to carry out this work. as sug-
gested, yet any convenient day will do.
1t is not generally known, but it is an
interesting fact, that it has been very
largely through the earnest desire and
efforts of the pupils themselves that
our national flag now floats over so
many of our public schoolhouSes. If
the pupils of our rural schools will now
take up the work of bcautifying the
school grounds with trees and shrubs,
the movement can be made as popular
and as farrcaching in its Influence for
good.
Some one, however, in each school
must lead in the movement. Who will
win this honor in your school? The
pupils must insist that the school
grounds shall be beautificd. If the pu-
pills show an earnest desire to carry
out this work, they are sure to find
willing helpers among the farmers and
other friends of the school. WOmcn'S
clubs will always be glad to aid you.
If there is an organization of the
grangcrs in your town, it will feel hon
orcd by request for advice or assist
ancc.