The Dolores star., 1906-04-13
SCHOOL GARDENS
URGENTLY REcoMMENpen Nv
STATE suPERINTGNpEMT.
THEIR EDUCATIONAL VALUE

Miss Craig Wants Gardens In coooee-
tion With All Colorado sehools-
Tells How to Begin the Work.
Denver.-With view Of encourag-
ing the interest Of the school children of
Colorado in gardening. Miss Katherine
L. Craig. state superintendent of pub.
lie instruction, has issued a letter to
school Euperintendents. principals and
teachers asking them to assist in this
movement. Miss Craig's letter fol-
lows:
"Superintendents, Principals and
Teachers:
Il urgently request that you mani
fest an interest in, and lend a helping
hand toward the establishing Of gar
dens in connection with the public
schools Of this state.
Plants are living things; they re-
quire what all living things need-air,
water, food, protection. Like other
living things they die II neglected.
There Is no surer way to touch the
fundamental principle Of right living
than by garden. Incidentally, 1t
gives responsibility, the best physical
exercise and the best manual training
all in the fresh air and sunlight.
Children should be taught. to realize
personal obligation. OF course, this
should not be beyond the daily strength
more than task of any kind, but
obligation they should feel.
Gardening as subject to be taught
Is science and as a method 1t Is the
most substantial and practical basis
for reading, writing, language work,
arithmetic and nature study.
1T presents series OF arithmetical
problems. Ordinary teaching of arith.
metic is In the abstract, but work
ing out the problem in the garden
brings It into the concrete. There is
the measurement of the land, the plot.
ting, the calculating of time and la
Dor. the estimating of income, from
each hill, from a row, from an acre.
The child Is presented with living con-
ditions. and he becomes alive with in.
terest because the problems deal with
the business of life.
School gardening is not an imposed
task, but an up-to-date educational
problem with which nearly every stat
In the Union, and many foreign coun:
eign countries, are dealing.
1T has come to stay. 1t may meet
with reyerses for a season, but 1t is
an aesthetic, moral, Intellectual and
vitalizing factor in education and, as
some one has said, Blessed be the gar
den with its Influences
"I believe school gardening work
should continue throughout the school
year in regular courses. The lessons
during the winter and spring should
consist Of practical work in making
straw hotbed mats, mixing soils. test
ing seeds. soil studies, pottihg ard re-
potting. grating. spading, care of
lawns. walks, drives, etc.
"As soon as the gardens are planted
the principal weeds should be studied.
root, stem, leaf and, where possible.
flower and seed. The children should
be taught not only the name, but the
uses II there are any, and the best man.
ner and time to kill 1t. They should
also be taught the history of our COM
mon plants. evergreens, flowerless
plants, etc.
1.-THE work should include frequent
talks on nature. written essays on gar
dening and outdoor trips to the parks.
II this method Of instruction was
closely adhered to the influence OF the
garden on the children would be re-
markable.
Respectfully yours,
KATHERINE L. CRAIG,
Superintendent Of Public Instruction"