Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-08
SCHOOL GARDENING
DISCUSSED BEFORE SOCIETY FOR
ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT.

'.rhat the children may secure their pleas
urss from practical things and be happy to-
day In personal efforts at civic improve
ment and that their work in vacation gar
dening may be afflliated with the play
ground movement are the main purposes OF
the teachers Of gardening in the local
schools" stated Miss Susan B. Eipe in the
rooms OF the Spanish claims commission
Friday afternoon. She addressed large
audience under the auspices OF the Society
for tho Artistic Development of Washing
ton.
Former Senator William e. Chandler pre-
sided. and in introducing Miss Sipe paid a
tribute to the manner In which, without
funds, the devotion and example of a few
teachers is revolutionizing the appearance
Of the local schools.
Miss sipe explained with the aid Of Ian
tern slides the origin. development and
and the special privileges which have been
accorded the schools by the courtesy Of the
Department Of Agriculture.
The school garden" she said. "has added
plot is a laboratory in which not only the
child's Industrial and scientific instincts are
fostered and developed, but where his whole
school knowledge is applied and tested.
Laying Of Of Plots.
There. in the laying Off of his plots in
the calculation of the amounts of fertilizer
and even in the counting of the weeds
which he pulls out, his arithmetic is put to
proof. The planting of f1ber-bearing seeds
and grains is correlated with his geography
and he Is awakened to some conception OF
the commerce of his country. But the main
purpose Of the teachers is not commercial
nor utilftarian. The inculcation of the les
con OF citizenship, of the protection of his
own rights and the rights Of others is one
OF the first fruits of the garden
Mis- Sfpe told, in Illustration of the last
point. OF the encouragement which met the
first efforts at Improvement of the grounds
OF the Franklin School.
Following a series of failures through
vandalism, campaign of moral instruc-
ton was decreed The children were made
to understand that the plants were their
own and that it is one duty to protect ones
rights and to assist IN protecting those Of
others. Plants were put out and the pu-
pills organized vigilance committee. In
three years since the movement started no
further trouble has been experienced and
neighbors In the vicinity of the school no
longer complain Of children crossing their
lawns.
Harvested Produce.
Through the kindness of DIR. Galloway of
tho bureau Of plant industry, last year
eighteen boys used about a seventh of an
acre on the agricultural grounds and
throughout the vacation carefully tended
and harvested their produce Through DR..
Galloway also the normal girls have ac-
cess to a green house, in which expert
ments in soils and plant culture are car
ried on and plants are started and potted
as supply source for the school gardens.
Every normal girl, OF whom there are 128
also carries on a home garden, which Is
considered part of her school work, and ex-
amined as such by the instructor.
The coming season, Miss Sipe said. more
than two hundred white children will be
provided with plats in the acre and half
assigned to them on the Department of
Agriculture grounds. and another acre Will
DE plowed and put into condition for col
ored children.
After Miss Sipe had concluded Mr.. Chan
dler called upon Commissioner Macfarland
to explain the policy of the municipal au-
thorittes in the matter.
Mr.. Mcfarland said the Commissioners
are entirely in sympathy with the work,
and that he hoped Congress would grant
the very small sum Of 1900 which has
been asked for school gardening. In the
name of the Commissioners, of the school
authorities and school officials. he said, he
desired to express high appreciation Of the
great work Miss Sipe has started. as well
as gratitude for her interest and sacri-
fee In giving UP vacations to help the chill
HrAp