The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-05-21
EDUCATIONAL BUREAU
Under Direction of KATE MARKHAM POWER

H o. al III htnths.A
should, of course, be the school Seuie
itself, and there should be a lawn \
front, with neat walk from ea,a =
door. In case the yard must Y
ploWed up, surely some of Won ~
boys will gladly do it and Others ~, ~
prepare the soil and plant the saas
Or, II it is better to sod the lawn &.
whole crowd make a frolic of fna,-s
and cutting, and afterward LAYING M
sod. Back of the house, a few snlsn
did shade trees should stretch Il,
their arms, beneath which the cbg
dren can find shelter from the am.
glare, while enjoying their play at i
cess. Nothing could be finer fGr III.
than a fine beech or two, an AIM
pine. Just for the looks of things. ",
know, and n each of the beaptifsl
holly, magnolia and bay, Any ~,
houses should be screened from yiew
by native vines. | recall one yars
attractive yard, in which the woos
house was completely hidden BY ,
wild grape vine, which, after coye,.
ing the roof, reached its long tendrf,
up until it caught the tips of tvo
near by trees and formed a perfept
bower, meath which the dear littls
girls loved to make their "nlav
houses" Isn't that a thousand times
better than struggling to get a little
pleasure on a play ground baked bs
the broillng SUI until nothing can
flourish on it, not even childish play,
| was told by the happy looking girl
who taught these children so much
that was not in their books, that t.ley
had found, dug up, and planted tMs
vine in less than twenty minutes. And
doubtless it will be a joy for as many.
IL not more, years, In this back ward
there were plenty of trees, but room
also, for ball, and base and all things
else SO dear to boyish hearts.
Nor will the spirit of improvement
once aroused stop here. 1t will con-
tinue until the school house itself par
takes of the better state OF things |
The children, il once made to realize
the school is theirs-that the /
building in the adjoining district be
longs to and is cared for by the chill
1ren OF that neighborhood, will, Of
their volition, assume the care of the
house. And when this happens they
Will soon begin to find all manner Of
.ault with the small room, the rough /
inish, the shabby furniture, etc. And |
.lst that Is what we want-for when /
children clamor for better school |
houses, to fit into their own beautiful /
the parents, ashamed of the
OF things, will arouse their
dormant enthusiasm and pitch in with /
he little folks to beat the neighbor
ng district out of sight" The mo
I've may not be the highest-but good /
Iatured rivalry has brought about ten
thousand improvements where placid 1
ontent has made one, in this world.
heard, not long ago, of an limo.
alton that had proven one long de.
Ight to the children. This was the
facing in tops and branches of frees,
l bird houses, which at once attracted
colony of feathered homeseekers, /
nd was an amending joy to the chill !
rem, who, led by their teacher, were
all about birds and their (
lode Of life. If the children are al !
WED to make tho houses their In, 4
crest will be very much greater.
Another good idea, and one that
proven successful in my own ez.
arience, is to allow each child a Ger.
Tin space in the flower border, and
3qulre him Tor herr to take entire i
Ireland to enjoy all the %frult-of /
lat little spot.
In many of our Northern States,
here this work has been long estab.
shed. the schoIs have. each fall, a
endld flower show, with prizes, etc,
Id these affairs attract the interest /
all classes of people (for from all (
asses are the schools built up and
We grown to considerable social i'm.
Why could our children not
u 10 WORK at once and have their
st flower show In the spring of next
arr honestly believe that this
OF improving the buildings and
ounds of our rural schools would
compiish almost as much good for
public school work and for the 4
tldren, as the great and liberal con.
button of our legislature is going
do. +
earnestly hope that this letter will i
awaken tagging interest in this
and blessed work. and en-. \
irage those who are already work
as 1t is the intention of interested
rites to offer a series of prizes.
MN a short while, for just such
OF work as | have outlined here.
, desire to interest the children in
drawing of the plans, the care.
! Knowledge, of tile trees and /
hts, and to encourage a feeling OF
nership in the school property. 1t
ms "a far cry" from the plan for
lutifying a little country school
d to the extensive and expensive I
enc of decorations which is to con.
I our now bare and ugly capital
unds into gardens of beauty, but
Y may 1t not be that the talent
Ich finds birth in just this work /
some day attain such eminence \
the artist must have who does the
X that will form a fitting frame
so stately.a picture as our beauti.
capitol building now makes.
Know that there is many a great I
4 and woman beginning to learn Of
along the flower gemmed wood
d paths that lead to our rural
oois, and | believe that many q
Jus sits within the bare and ugly
Is or the rural school houses. Can }
we Join hands and hearts and do
very best to help these children
and cultivate the talent that Is
make the world better and brighter?
work. | am sure, will be a good
ne Weis & Leish Manufacturing
lpany is putting in one of the
est spoke factories In the South
irenada- The company is capital
at 100000 and has been in the
ness at Corinth and other towns
a number of years. Mississippi 1
an abundance of spoke timber