Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-04-26
TO TEACHERS AND SCHOOL OFFICERS.
ArbOr Day: Its Purpose, and How and
Why We Observe II.

Arbor Day was first suggested by
Mr.. j. Sterling Morton of Nebraska,
and was instituted for the purpose of
encouraging the planting Of trees in
those localities where there were but
few trees, or where the indiscriminate
Strengthening of the young timber had
caused scarcity of timber, to replace
the rapid destruction of the larger
timber for lumber. railroad ties, tele-
graph and telephone poles etc., and to
induce people to plant shrubs and trees
around their dwelling houses to beaut-
ify their surroundings. Since its first
introduction. Arbor Day has come to
be celebrated all over the United
States, and thousands of Schoolhouse
sites have been transformed as if by
magic touch from dreary and barren
patches of ground to shady and slightly
places where teachers and pupils may
meet in the long days of summer with
pleasure instead of dread. 1t is the
custom of the Governor of each state
to appoint special day each spring
on which he asks-in accordance with
the spirit and purpose of Arbor Day
all schools, as well as peorle in general,
to observe the day by appropriate
exercises, and especially by planting
trees and shrubs. This year Cover
nor A. B. Cummins has appointed
Friday April 2Sth as Arbor Day. But,
since the announcement Of this date
was made so recently that there has
been no opportunity to prepare for
the observance Of it, and since many
of our schools do not open for spring
terms before the first Monday of May,
1 desire to have Friday Afternoon
May 18th decided upon in our county
as fit time for the observance of this
Day. We can observe the spirit and
purpose of the Day if we do not cele-
brate it at the time announced. 1
therefore request that all teachers and
school officers arrange to observe the
day appropriately in each district If
it so happens that certain districts
have sufficient number of trees and
shrubs upon the grounds, the day
can be observed by general cleaning
up of the grounds and buildings. All
rubbish. old grass, weeds, ash piles
and such things can be removed, and
windows and furnishings cleaned up.
the children will be only to glad to
help in this work if it be undertaken
in the right spirit, and l am of the
opinion that other help can be secured
in the district if people know just
what you want and when the help is
needed. Try asking some one the
week before to furnish a team and
rig to go to the woods and bring
some young trees-hard naples, elms,
box elders or walnut-to the grounds
for planting on this day-May 12th Q
o'clock, p. m. Every schoolhouse site
in the county should have upon it,
growing in thrifty condition, twelve
or more shade trees. 1t is the duty
of every board to provide for the
planting out and protecting this num-
Der of trees. Section 27S7, Page 60,
Laws of 1902, says: "The board of
each school corporation shall cause to
be set out and properly protected
twelve or more shade trees on each
schoolhouse site where such trees are
not growing" This section requires
that boards provide for setting out
trees, but L am now asking that the
district join hands with the director
and help to do this work on May 18th.
| Let every teacher make special effort
to secure the help of the pupils, and
director try to help his teacher and
pupils, and every district join in and
help teachers. pupils and directors,
and our naked school sites will be
clothed with the beautiful foliage of
maple and elm and will furnish shade
for the little folks in the heat of
summer, and will coax the feathered
songsters to visit the school grounds
where they and the children NAV
mutually enjoy the little sacrifice of
time, and the little effort that we
have made to make the school and
grounds pleasanter for them. Remem-
Der the time-May 18th, p. IN.
Very truly yours,
l7-2. E. j. HOOK, County Supt.