The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-24
Checked Nature Study Com
mittee in Its Work.
ANNUAL MEETING
HELD LASTsN1GHTf
Most interesting Reports Submitted
Including Ore by Mrs. Bruce from
Northern Conference-lndus-
trial School for Girls Rec Il.
commended by Mrs. VAL
entine-E Election.

Among tho various, interesting and INK
portant matters in connection with tho
annual meeting Of the Richmond Educas
tlon Association, held last evening, per-
haps the most striking was q rather sharrs
criticism Of certain Of the municipal aus
thorities for their chilling response to-
the efforts Of tho Association in the d.
rection OF nature study. among the public.
school children,
When the report Of the Nature Study
Committee was presented by, Mrs. w. vs.
Archer. 1t was brought to light that np-i
spllcation had been made to the School VI
Board OF Richmond and to the City En-
gtneer in reference to two matte,s de-t
signed to promote botanical research
among the children and that in both cases II
the committee had been refused tho neces-
sary permission. The amazement of tho
ladies and their ipdignation IS best ex II
pressed in the report which was received
with applause by the Association: AZ
THE Nature Study Committee has out 4
little to report of work accomplished
There were no lectures on this subject
this year and the work outlined was ma
follows: M III
Il 10 spend most edvantageously the
SO appropriated to our work by the Exc
cutive Committee; 2. TO have the trees
In our parks marked with both their COM
mon and botanical names in such way
that our children could study them;s - 10 I
start a collection OF specimens which
would be useful to the teachers of nature
study in our schools.
1T was decided to spend the S25 In putt
ting window gardens in MARSHALL Street
school and In planting vines on such
school buildings as seemed desirable and
appropriate. Owing to many causes theSS
window garden was delayed and VIII only
be enjoyed next session. Application WAS IS
formally made to tho School Board
through Mr.. Walford, for permission to
plant these vines. The principals to-
whom we had spoken We're as eager as i
we to cover the unsightly bricks with the Z
beautiful Ampelopsis We supposed our
application to be q nero Formally and
great was our surprise when we were
told that tho Board declined our request,
that the artistic value OF the vines was
moro than counterbalanced by the dis
agreeable features OF insects, birds, etc.
connected Herewith. Have the membera
of the Board ever enquired of the prop
erty-owners along our principal ressidenca
streets what their experiences Of their
vines have been? Almost one-half Of tha
houses on these streets have these vines as
on some portion OF the building. A glance Il
from almost any window will fall upcn
walls covered with these lovely vines.
be unmindful OF these 'disagreeable feu-
lures.
'The marking OF tho trees by simple
card tackled on a wooden board and hung
from the trees seemed another harmless
request. Some OF our teachers assured ps
that this marking would greatly assist
them In arousng interest III this subject
among their scholars. Again We were
refused without hesitation. Our City ems
gineer to whom we applied must have
had his own reasons for his point BLANK
refusal. Surely the reason given to US
was inadequate, Our boys would injure
the trees II the pacards We're put on
them! Arc our boys worse than those
in other cities and would our simple eff
forts to instruct arouse only tho desire
for destructlon?"
The report. Of which the above is the
better portion, was received with ap-
plause. Members OF the association.
sreaking OF the matter afterwards. ems
dorsed every word OF 1t. and expressed
tho hope that the public would get tho &
full benefit OF 1t.
The Meeting.
Tho meeting was held at $40 o'clock
In the auditorium OF the Young Mens
Christian Association, The attendance
was rather small. but the session proved
a most interesting and enjoyable one.
one of the decided features OF tine eye-
ming was the excellent report sivea by
Mrs A. C. Bruce, OF the Conference os
Eastern Public Education Association.
held about May 18th in New Haven, Conn.
The body was in session three days, and
Its transactions We're OF vital impor-
lance, Airs, Bruce was present, and sla
gave a thorough and entertaining ae-
count of the meeting. Her remarks were
received with hearty applause from tho
attendance.
The reports submitted We're all % a high