Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-04-19
ArbOr Day and School Work.

County Superintendent Lawrence
is determined to advance the educa-
tional interests to the highest pos
Sible degree of efficiency, not only in
assisting the teachers but by personal
effort among the school officers. lie
has recently sent out a circular letter
to all the teachers calling attention
to ArbOr Day work and made reference
to a matter of great Importance con-
corning improvement in the appear
ance Of school houses and grounds
and in anyway make school life more
attractive to the little boys and girls
who study in the little white building
where SO many of our great men
began their studies.
The editor of the LEADER in Offer
ing a prize.of $40 as explained by Supt.
Lawrence. did SO with a hope that it
might arouSe interest among the
teachers, not for the little prize but
for the great good that would follow.
If there is any place on earth that
ought to be beautiful and attractive it
is the little school house and the
grounds on which the children play.
Impressions formed in youth are last
ing and the beautiful appeals to the
little ones much a. it does in after
life. Give the children something to
admire and teach them the secret
and benefit of creative art and you
will give them a lesson that they will
never forget. The letter sent out by
Superintendent Lawrence reads as
follows:
Canton, S. D., April 8, 1907.
Dear Teacher: / am sending you
enclosed our governors .Arbor Day
proclamation and our state superin-
tendent's letter in regard to the same.
| feel that all of Our teachers are in
tereSted in observing the purposes of
this day as suggested, but / know
that not much can be accomplished
in the way of planting trees and
beautifying the school grounds with
out the cooperation of school officers.
Try to get the school board to help
you in this matter and ! will do
what / can to assist you by writing a
letter to the school officers. Col.
Arthur Linn, Editor of the Farmers
Leader, has offered a prize of SO to
be awarded to the school showing the
greatest amount of improvement in
its material environment within a
years time dating from March II,
1907. Although this is not a large
prize to work for and would not in
itself compensate for the effort, yet
the great benefit that must accrue to
every district that strives to attain it
is apparent. Therefore hope that
you will do all in your power to
arouse interest along this line.
The eighth grade examination will
be held at Canton on Friday and Sat
urday, May 3 and 4th., beginning Fri
day morning at 8 O'Clock. The ex-
animation will be on the following
subjects. Geography. writing. draw
ing, arithmetic, spelling, civics, read
ing, grammar, physiology and L. S.
history.
The teachers institute will be held
at Canton the last week in June, be-
ginning Monday, June 24th, and clos
ing June 18th. | have secured a
strong corps of instructors from
abroad. Miss Grace Greves will be
with us again. | am sure that this
will be pleasing news to all teachers
that attended our institute last year.
In regard to term reports, l desire to
impress upon you the Importance of
your making out the report in full
and with great care. Make out the
report in duplicate Immediately after
your school closes, and SEM n to
me, the other to be left with the
clerk of the district.
/ find that it is impossible for me
to visit all the schools this school
year. If you should have a special
reason for desiring me to visit your
school this term. please write me to
that effect, and ! will make a special
effort to call upon you.
Yours very truly,
G.. G.. LAWRENCE,
County Supt.