Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-05-31
TALKS ON SCHOOL AFFAIRS.
The Treatment of School House and
School Grounds.

for something more than mere pro-
lection, was architecture born
With every system Of religion that
has appeared, IA corresponding sys-
TEN Of architecture has been devel-
oped and yet after nineteen centuries
of Christianity have left their i'm
press, we are still without any def
mite system as regards the symbol
ism and naturalization Of our
school buildings.
or all types Of buildings, the
school building stands out the most
conspiciously in its want Of rational
treatment; churches, theatres and
Office buildings each have had the
best talent of the civilized world eX-
pended on the problem of their con-
struction, but the school building, so
important an element in the pros
pcrity and progress of our country,
Is far from receiving this measure
of attention.
TO secure perfectly sanitary, use
full convenient and lastly ornamen-
tai structure in II school building de-
serves the serious attention Of every
right-minded architect and every
public spirited man connected with
the school system. The architect
has duties, but, so also, has the
school board for which he labors.
The school grounds with II few
exceptions, are bare, harsh and
checrleSs, devoid in most cases of
trees, shrubs and evon grass. This
condition Is due perhaps, in some
measure, to Indifference or lack of
appreciation Of the beautiful, but
chiefly, no doubt, to the prevalent
opinion that it would be useless to
attempt any improvement or orna-
mcntation Of school grounds in view
of the apparent disposition on the
part of boys and girls to ignore such
mild injunction as, keep of the
grass"
Thoughtful persons however are
persuaded that school children can
readily be induced to respect that
which they may feel II intended MS u
pleasure to themselves ms well rs an
improvement to the grounds.
In improving our school grounds
we should plan, not only to make
them attractive, but to select such
plants, trees and shrubs as may be
useful for instruction.
A child may become interested in
II tree and admire the handsome
foliage, but he loves flowers. Their
study Is the most refreshing, in
structiye and refining; for this rea-
son let us have flowers and plenty
of them.
DO we ever stop to ask ourselves
why we observe Arbor Day in our
schools? The observance of this
day should be the occasion of ava
kening of thoughts, ideals and inter
est that shall unfold and ripcn into
deeper reverence for life In its myr-
lad forms; into wider sympathies
and into gentler manners,
In the planting of trees, making of
flower beds; in decoration of school
rooms and cleaning up of rubbish in
school grounds there is developed h
taste and love for order neatnoss
and beauty that will prove invalu-
able,
The efforts of pupils and teacher
towards hoautifying their school
home will not be lost on the COM
munity. In many instances their
efforts, brought to the notice of par
onts and members of the board, have
developed II sentiment which has
resulted IN more frequent cleaning
of walks, floors and furniture, in II
fresh coat of paint for the building
n fence for the ward and what is or of
still greater Importance it has estab'
lished that feeling of hearty cooper
alton on the part of parents and
teacher so much to be desired.
Hut neither pictures, shruhhery
nor architectural appearance can
take the place of order and cleanli-
ness; no beauty of adjournment can
offset the bad influence of careless
ness in this respect
Let us see to it that all sheso forces
work together SO that the school
days of our children may not be u
reminisence of tacks in seats, jack
knife carved benches, pasted up win
dows and disigurod walls; but II
memory of n self-respecting, Joyous
youth, such II youth as builds itself
into beings worthy of citizenship in
this the greatest nation, yet born,
beings who are destined to lead in
the future progress of this the TWEEN
tieth century.