Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-26
The Teachers and the Flowers.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The appearance in your editorial column
OF the statement, much of the damage
done to the fields and woods around Wash
il gton in the destruction of plant life Is
caused by the zeal of the teachers and pu-
pills of the public schools in the pursuit of
nature studies,'' is unjust to teachers and
pupils alike. The teachers in particular seem
to come in for unfayorable comment at all
times and on all occasions. In their efforts
to inculcate In the minds of their pupils
love and knowledge of the beautiful they
use prudence and discrimination in gath
ering material from nature; and in their
desire to make their instruction vivid and
profitable they frequently exhaust their
purses and their ingenuity, their purses In
buying blossoms, plants, vegetables ana
fruits, and their ingenuity in coaxing flow
ers and sprays from their friends and
neghbors, who often dismantle their gar
dens for them. Yes school rooms are fire.
quently "embowered with Towering shrubs
and plants but all are not brought from
the woods. The neighboring markets and
the gardens of the teachers and pupils and
of their friends furnish much of the ma
terial used in objective work and in beau
tifying tables and windows.
Where one school shows a reckless de-
struction of growing things, fifty Will evi-
dence that moderation is exercised In the
nature study work as in all other pursuits.
The few specimens of dogwood or OF blood
root are more the rule than is the whole
scattering of branches and sprays among
the children.
Visits to the neighboring woods will dis
close a devastation of small plants and
shrubs not occasioned, never to be equaIed
by pupils or teachers. The firebrand used
in cleaning out Objectionable underbrush
has played havoc with not only the arputus,
hepatica, bloodroot, spring beauty, anemo-
ne and violet, but the thriving sapling ana
large tree. Along Gunpowder creek, just
where it is bridged by the Great Falls rail-
road west of the District line, along the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal. through the
woods at Dyke, Va, traversed by the Audu-
of the wood paths frequented by bird and
flower students, show destruction that the
most reckless onslaughts of teachers ana
pupils could never accomplish.
Again, recall our city markets during last
Christmas season with the carloads, not
wagonloads, of evergreens dumped ABOUT
them. These evergreens, more than supply
ing the greatest demands of the Washing
ton householders in their, zeal for holiday
decorations, represented the best products
of neighboring and distant woods, Canada
even contributing her share OF the vast
stock. To complete the wantonness, Don
fires about the markets after the rush re-
duced the rare and costly trees to ashes
Instead of attributing so much destruction
ers and children, it might be well to sug-
gest to the proper city authorities the pro-
priety of regulating the supply of such ma
terfal to the natural demand
I6acneES are progressive, paAhSeonAAio
body of workers, taking readily to sugges-
lions looking to the betterment OF city con-
ditions and surroundings. They are zeal
dens. home gardens, city gardens recess
games and amusements, indeed, anything
tending to the uplifting of their little
charges. and through them the entire COM
responsible for all the shortcomings of that
community. Call upon the teachers. col
lectively or individually. for assistance In
of the capital city. but credit them with
moderation, prudence and discernment as
teachers in the schools and as citizens In
the community. A. D. B.