New-York tribune., 1902-04-27
CHOOL GROUND
Continued from page three.

In the mean time the seeds given to the chill
dren in the spring had been cared for IN their
home yards with great industry Vegetables
also were grown for which prizes were offered
The flower show in August was great success.
Besides the flowers grown by the children, there
was a fine display of wild flowers and Of named
branches of the different trees grown in this
locality. Twenty-one prizes were given, and 1t
was a foregone conclusion that the work would
go on the next season
At the close Of the year we took stock The
effort in the four schools by no means repre-
sented the movement-ft had extended all along
the line Some of the work that We had done
with care was neglected through the summer
and came to naught. Some schools had accom-
pIished more by themselves than the chosen Few.
Principals who had desired better yards and
had labored for them. but expected to die WITH
out the sight" took fresh courage. One scAooi
located near an old quarry had a yard en-
numbered with stones and stumps from the
prirevaI forest The principal, nothing da4nC-
ed. marshaIIed her forces and organized the
girls into tug-Of-war. while the boys dug al
the old stumps. and between them they man
aged to hurl them into the quarry They
brought shrubs from their own homes. gathered
hayseed from the barn floors and soWed thelf
grass. and the unsiShtIy grounds were trdhs-
formed into u beautiful lawn at an eNpeI---IuIS
OF - cents We lOunU dLSO lLtil st S---4- 90
powerful element was working with Us Ihas
'UutaTned increme Mt so uncertain ana W 50
potent-pubIic opinion-was ours. Inc row.!
spirit that had torn up the Hover oedS eI-1 ue-
StrCyed the vines seemed to be eliminated.
In the work of improving the school! III Us cIe
second year each school acted on It's o"u '5l4'.l ~
tive. Each had its separate problem i-'1ue ~
Of the condition Of the yard the eIF lIO--."
and the ing ginatiOn and resources OF 1He
teacher The solution of these proDlrilS "aS
very interesting The devices for raisins money
were varied they were numerous
mage sales rubber sales all kinds or enter t,l-i!-
mcntS-they rivuIIed the churcheS IN IiteLI
schemes The most valuable work was thal
done by the children themselves IN the I, ,otes
districts Fathers would come after nara
days work and lend hand IN clearlns lns
school yard in true pioneer style C9i'Ll IL
varied much that comparisons could h.tluLS
toe made. one of our oldest schoolS hstI an ~ n
menSe yard with great poSSiplLltieS IL iI -
not for its areas of stones and deSoIaJioii 4He
school visitor for the WOman's Union HVed EeAI
door Being Il woman of resources, she DEVISED
a plan. This school was located in a par, "I me
city where the children belonged TO Vel % ~ ~
families. a circular printed ana sent 70
each home asking the parents TO state no"
much they would pay a week up to June Iot
the Improvement Nearly all responded IN sIhS
from 10 cents to 81. over 500 was r.--sea
Without any trouble. and the lnlproNtIily4e "@'
put in the hands of the park superintendent
The work of clearing the ground was .t'o1L
GUS Forty-three loads of stone were carted on
seventy loads of street dirt put on, and toEs or
fertilizer applied. AS a result an excellent avn
has been created. edged with 2.3oO fine saTuos
donated bN a former puplI 1IAIS SetAU 'e'0--'
took the first prize
The school that took the second prize had a
much smaller yard. but every inch was ulitue
the most of. In the most ATTRACTIVE
little arbOr respondent with morning glorieS anu
devoted to the Kindergarten children. 1htS
work was supervised by the park superintend,
ent. the money being raised by all manner ol
clever devices. ,
The third prize taken by school 'ocatta
in the suburbs among the labOrInS class rs
school is perhaps the most interesting anu lHo
Improvement did not cost dollar The LtrSea
boys told that half holiday wJud oo
given to all of the boys that would brlLS soHie
utensiI for work-spade, pick. hoe. shovel. Nleel,
barrow or cart of any kind. Three hundred anu
fifty reported for duty, with a medley OF diC-
cIes. There were seventy handcartS, and otNe..
things in proportion. The grounds were plcke5o
up stones removed. rich earth brought IN, Sous
brought from vacant lots and laid in place, uee1
planted and flower beds made. Each grace uIu
it's own bed that yielded a fine harvest 10 .,o
flower show During the summer TWO boys W.
detailed each week t. water the sod ana no"e
daily If space would permit. honorable Hie
ton should be made of many more Schools edNN
with its own particular story. ..
1t IS imposs;bI to estimate the reflex inliueHCe
of this work 1t is very evident in the lmpiVsoI
ment of the home yards and the spI t.
awakening of the child. 1t cultivates the loss
of the beautiful keeps him out of the street az
is a wholesome and legitimate occupation 1or nS
activities