Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-04-25
OBSERVANCE OF ARsoR DAY.
State Supt. Stockwell Makes Sugges
ton for Arbor Day In the Public
Schools.

~RAe
ton for Arbor Day In the Public
Schools.
Department of Public instruction, Bis |
marck, N. D.
In accordance with an established
practice, the governor of our state has
set May first as Arbor day.
1t is not the intention of the de-
partment of public instruction to 's.ue
an extended manual for Arbor day this
educated Journals taken by the
teachers of our state will furnish abun-
dant material for an Arbor day pro-
gram. However. the department would
make several suggestions which we
hope the teachers of the state may
find profitable. First. while the gen.
eral purpose of Arbor day is to en-
courage tree planting. the main rea-
son why the schools observe the day
is, that by tree cultivation, we may
make IL school grounds more at
tractive and thus lend beauty to the
school environment. Now. as far as
our observation goes. trees have been
planted year after year about many of
our school houses. and yet there are
not many living trees to furnish shade
to the children during the hot summer
months. 1t is our belief that it would
be wiser to plant. on the coming Ar.
Dor day. just one good tree-prefera-
bly, an elm-and her register a vow
that that tree shall live. provided care
full planting and nurture can make 1t
live; we suggest the elm because
there is no reason why we cannot grow
elms, n when the elm is once thor.
oughly started there is no question as
to its long life and beauty. as famed in
sons and story. Second, nothing can
lend o charm to a school yard than
a few nicely arranged flower beds:
this is something which can easily be
arranged. and how much of beauty will
thereby be added. In connection with
the flower bed, could not a plot of
ground be broken and arranged as a
school garden? Surely in this agri.
cultural state. not better way can he
found for giving simple instruction in
agriculture, and we believe that a
valuable knowledge of the cultivation
and growth of our common vegetables
thus be secured. Third. organize
a brigade and let the teacher be the
brigadier. and clean up the building.
out-buildings and school grounds. See
that all rubbish, paper and refuse mat.
ter OF every description is removed
from the school grounds for "Cleanli.
ness is next to Godliness." Fourth.
e~ndeavor to create a love and regard
for the few song birds which for so
short a time make their home in an
'rbon society. DR.. Grin G. Libby.
OF the state university. will undoubted.
~ be glad to assist you in such an
undertaking. Fifth, see that the
school room. proper, is garnished with
a few good pictures placed upon the
walls. Do not fall into the habit of
over-decoration and do not have any.
thing but good pictures on the walls
Danish the chrome and the cheap ad.
vertising picture forever. Let the chill
dren look upon one carefully selected
well-framed reproduction of some
great masterpiece; no one knows how
deep and abiding is the impression
that is made thereby.
Finally. the department wishes YOU
God speed in your work of making the
school environment more pleasant. and
consequently. school life more attrac
tive.
Yours sincerely,
w. l.. STOCKWELL.
superintendent of Public Instruction