Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-04-13
SCHOOL GARDENS
URGENTLY RECOMMENDED BY
STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
THEIR EDUCATIONAL VALUE
Miss Craig Wants Gardens In connee-
tion With All Colorado Schools
Tells How to Begin the Work.

ieHa No~ TO ccgiN tHc "ofh.
Denyer.-With u 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 II letter To
school Euperintendents. principals and
teachers asking them To assist in this
lows:
"superintendents. Principals and
Teachers:
Il urgently request that you mani.
hand toward the establishing OF ear
dens In connection with the public
schools OF this state.
plants aTe living things: they re-
Iniro what all living things nced-air.
wafer. food. protection. Like other
living things they die II neglected.
There II no surer way to touch the
fundamental principle. Of right living
than by garden. Incidentally. IL
gives responsibility. the best physical
exercise and the best manual training
all In the fresh air and sunlight.
personal obligation. OF course. this
should not be beyond the daily strength
more than n task OF any kind. but
obligation they should feel.
Gardening aE subject TO be taught
In a science ana as method II iB the
most substantial and practical basis
for reading. writing. language work.
arithmetic and nature study.
1T presents series OF artthmctlcal
problems. Ordinary teaching OF arith'
m.tIc IL In tho abstract. but work
inE out the problem In the garden
brings II Into ghc concrete. There IN
the measurement OF the land. the plot.
ting. the calculating OF timC and In.
Dor. the estimating OF income. from
each hill. from row. from an acre.
Tho child Is presented with living con.
ditions. and he becomes alive With In
tcrcSt because the problems deal with
the business OF life
School gardening Is not nm imposed
task. but an up.to'dntc educational
problem with which nearly every stat
In the Union. and many foreign coun:
ciEn countries. are dealing.
1T has come TO stay. II may meet
with rcvcrscs for n season. but II 10
an aesthetic. moral. intellectual and
vitalizing factor In education and. rs
some one has said. Blessed be the gar.
den with its Influences
Il believe school gardening work
should continue throughout the school
year In regular courses. The lcssons
during the winter and spring should
consist OF practical work In making
straw hotbed mats. mixing soils. test
ing seeds. soil studies. potting and re-
potting. grating. spading. care Of
lawns. walks. drives. etc.
AS soon rs 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 It. They should
also be taught the history OF our com.
mon plants, evergreens. iiowcrless
plants. etc.
"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,
"KATHERTNE L. CRAIG.
Superintendent OF Public Instruction"