The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-10-27
TO OBSERVE ARBOR DAY


The State Superintendent Of Eduoa.
ton Has Issued an Address to the
Teachers sf the State.
The third Friday in November is
Arbor Day, day to be observed by
the schools according to an act Of the
legislature. 1t Is observed in Richland
and some OF the other countries by the
planting OF trees and shrubbery. Mr..
O. B. Martin, the State superintendent
Of education. is very anxious for all the
schools in the State to observe Arbor
Day this year. The law on the subject
Is as follows:
"The free public schools Of this State
shall observe the third Friday In No
vcmber OF each year as ,Arbor Day, and
on that day the school officers and
teachers shall conduct such exercises
and engage in the planting OF such
shrubs. plants and trees as will impress
On the minds Of the pupils the proper
value and appreciation to be placed on
flowers, ornamental shrubbery and
shade trees"
Mr.. Martin has issued an address to
county superintendent OF education
and to teachers generally. in which he
calls upon them to have the schools to
,ske proper observation Of the day.
In his address he offers the following
very timely suggestions:
ALLOW me to sail your attention to
the statute providing for the obserf'
unce of Arbor Day. The Programme in
clcded herein is only suggestive. You
ran easily supplement or abbreviate 1t,
Irasmuch as this day is so near to
Thanksgiving day it might be well TO
combine their celebration on the date
test suited to your conditions. 1t will
he an appropriate occasion to invite
patrons and to take steps for perna-
Lent school Improvements. AS q prep
aration for this day. it will be pro ia
bic 10 have the children collect in leaf
or book albums as many different kinds
Of leaves as possible and in addition
TO teaching them the various kinds o;
trees that grow in South Carolina the
leaves may also be used for spelling
or drawing lessons and an exhibit OF
This work will form part OF your en-
tertainment of visitors. In many sec
tons also an exhibit Of the various
kinds of good might be collected and
pupils might make some useful arti-
cies of school or household furniture.
as pointers. ink stands, rules, savels.
look cases. shelves. brackets. etc.
However. the chief object OF the leg
islature seems to be to teach the value
q. flowers. shrubbery and shade trees.
There are hundreds Of school houses In
this State located in open fields with
bleak surroundings and it is hoped that
this number may be greatly diminished
bv the celebration of Arbor day. The
address to the people of the south by
the Southern State superintendents en-
phasizes this situation in the follow
ing language: Surely. then, the house
In which this sacred work OF training
the children of the republic for citizen,
ship and social service. a work tina.
has to do with mind and soul and oooy,
with the moul1ing Of character ana the
creation of ideals, should be place
worthy in all respects of such a work
home. not a hovel; a place
c. beauty, not a place OF ugh,
ness: a place OF comfort, not place or
discomfort; a place of cleanliness, not
= nlace of uncleauliness.. About it the
grass should grow green and the sun
shine bright. the flowers bloom ana the
birds sing and the trees wave their
long arms. and the chill lren while l.s-
tening to the lessons taught by men
and books may receive also from the
,otent silent influence of proper en-
vironpent. the sweet message OF peace
anilove and culture and beauty.
I'VE ought to take advantage or tnls
occasion not only to make sentiment
but to raise funds to improve and Deau,
tify the schools. Each child could
bring a coin, collection may be taken,
or refreshments served and the pro-
cceds used to purchase pictures, ouy
shrubbery, paint houses. fences. etc. IL
would be especially appropriate 70 ra!se
money for libraries in those counties
which have not secured their quota,
under the library act. and even those
that have II might anticipate next
years appropriation and get tneir
money ready by the time the appropria-
ton becomes available. At all events
I hope that teachers and pupils VIII
make a pleasant and profitable occa'
sion out OF Arbor day"