Evening star., 1901-10-01
TREES ON SCHOOL GROUNDS
IMPORTANCE OF ATTRACTIVE SUR
ROUNDINGS.
Educational Value of the Establish
ment of Arbor Day-Pofnt to
BE Observed.


'rTree Planting on Rural School Grounds
forms the subject OF late bulletin issued
by the U. 8. Department of Agriculture.
great number of school houses in the
United States, 1t Is stated. lack the sur
roundings that make for comfort and con-
tentment. City school grounds are often
SO small that planting is out of the ques-
tion though, where space permits, 1t Is not
uncommon to find them carefully laid out,
with a good arrangement Of grass plots.
flower beds and shade trees. In towns and
villages also may be pointed out many ex-.
amples showing great care and attention.
In the country, however, an Improved
school ground is rarely found. In hilly.
forest regions they are often denuded
of soil, and full of stones and stumps. and
on the prairie many are well-nigh as bare,
bleak and inhospitable as when they
formed a part Of the unsettled plain.
This lack of improvement is not due to
causes evident at first sight 1t Is not on
account of poverty, for 1t is almost as
common in wealthy as in less prosperous
communities. 1t is not due to lack Of ap-
probation of the elements of beauty, for
where homes are surrounded with trees
grass and flowers the school ground is like
~ TO De entlTely neSleCleu. 1>cfthSA 40 IL
due to Indifference in educational affairs,
for none are more cordial in their support
of school systems and institutions or learn
ing than the American people. The cause
seems to lie rather in the failure to see
the Importance of comfort and beauty in
education and to realize the interest of the
American youth in the natural world
around him. Some err so far as to mis-
trust the willingness of the boys and girls
to allow trees and shrubs to grow unmo-
Tested ON the school ground. This is a fla
grant misinterpretation Of the spirit Of
childhood.
The strongest reason for schooi-ground
planting Is for the comfort of the teacher
and pupils who occupy the building from
seven to nine months In the year. A school
house so situated as wholly to lack pro-
lection from incement weather often sub
jects its occupants to distressing condi-
tions. During winter gales there Is an in
creasing demand for fuel which though
supplied often does not suffice to keep the
building warm.
Educational Value of Tree Planting.
But comfort is not the only reason for
planting about the school house. The trees
have also an educational value. Indeed,
bare grounds may be regarded as an oppor-
tunty. Children interested in the work Of
selecting, planting and growing trees and
shrubs about the school can gain in the
work no little knowledge of right principles
and methods. Many people think that to
plant tree all that needs to be done Is to
dig up saping, OF buy it, and set 1t in
hole. This is great mistake, responsible
for many unnecessary failures. Some
knowledge of tree culture is a thing sure to
prove useful to a large proportion of school
children.
Forestry is beginning to attract attention
as possible subject of school instruction.
SO far the interest In 1T Is mainly as
branch of nature study but Its growing
economic Importance may eventually
suit in its extensive Introduction into
courses of study. Technical forestry can
not be taught in the schools as part of
general education, and it ought not to be
grounds looks in that direction. Neyerthe
less plantation Of forest trees or wood
lot in connection with a school would give
an excellent opportunity for study of for
est growth and management, and in many
places 1t Is perfectly feasible.
But it Is asserted there is another side to
the educational value Of tree planting,
which Is OF first Importance. 1t is money
everything about it attractive and beaun-
full Here is one of the centers Of the life
Of the community, the one In which is gath
cred Its most impressionable element. The
school Is supported at public expense in
order to make good American citizens 1t
aims at securing the highest possible de-
velopment Of mind and character. Every
element of order, neatnesS and beauty,
sented. Americans are justly proud of their
school system, and should be willing to
support the schools, not only with money,
but with time and labor.
Establishment of Arbor Day.
The neglected condition of the school
ground has not remained without notice or
without some effort toward Improvement
The sentiment in favor of school ground
comfort and adornment has gradually in
creased for the last thirty years, and has
been greatly aided by the establishment
Of an annual Arbor day for tree planting
To be OF permanent value the planting
must be matter of concern to the whole
district. The teacher and the school can
not accomplish the work unaided by the
parents; neither can the parents accom-
plish 1t without the aid Of the teacher and
the school. Only when all work in unison
can the best results be obtained. Unfortu-
nately there are sometimes persons In the
district who have no interest in improve
ment, and it may even happen that they
control the school board while those who
have an Intelligent interest in the matter
may be few In number and even the teach
er may be too deficient in knowledge Of
planting to give valuable assistance; but
such a situation as this Is not hopeless If
the few persons who desire to make i'm
provements know how to bring things
q