The Washington herald., 1908-07-26

velOped IN Berlin within the last few
years. The pamphlet was written by L.
p Klemm, and was recently published
by the United States Bureau OF Educa-
ti0n
Before entering upon explanations. Mr..
Klenm refers 10 an incident OF more than
thirty-flve years ago. He says: 1T had
been the common observation OF primary
teachers IN Berlin that young children
just entering school were lacking con
cept.ons Of common natural phenomena.
such as the rising sun, the moon. thun-
derstorms. SC. hence that the work in
school became increasingly difficult as
the city grew larger and the children OF
the tenenents were further and further
removed from mother nature To de-
termine the extent Of this poverty OF con-
ceptions or ideas. an original investigation
Of the contents % the children's minds
on entering school was instituted by the
public school teachers Of the city"
Tie following items OF the report show
that the teachers complaints were well
founded:
"Of 18.o05 children entering school at
six years Of age. only 1540 had seen a
huclleberry bush; only 2.o7s had seen d
lake. only 2S54 knew what dew was; only
2Es5 could recognize a rabbit, only 2.635
had seen plowing. only 2.l52 had seen the
sun --se. only ass had seen the woods.
only 4.750 recognized a snail. only SOS
knew a frog when they saw IT, only COS
had seen q butterfly, only 7,779 had seen
a rainbow This proved a poverty OF
ideas which seriously hampered the IN
s-ructiOn OF the primary teachers, who
naturally relied upon a certain stock OF
70 base their language lessons"
Although the teachers realized the
necessity OF giving the children an op-
portulity 20 live IN the open air. their
influence alone was inadequate 70 con-
vince the public and the city authorities
Stronger Inducements were needed 20
bring about appropriate action First,
the school physicians (of whom there are
thi-ty-six in Berlin). followed By others
of the profession, added their influence 70
that OF the teachers n the press. and
IN the deliberations Of the city council,
but instead OF the Intellectual. they en-
phasized the physical deterioration OF
children
Arguments that Carried Weight.
When the decrease OF the birth rate
Of children became marked. the health
authorities began 20 move in the dtrec-
tion suggested by the teachers But
when finally Il was shown that juvenile
criminaIty in Berlin increased out OF
al proportion 20 the increase OF Grim
inZity IN general, the appeal for relief
became urgent 3fr. Elenm continues
Perhaps Il IS not generally known
that the city OF Berlin has in its gov
ernmental relations a tendency 10 adopt
sOCialistic measures. but certainly. com
pared with cur American cities. il NAV
be said 70 be a notable example OF own
ership OF public utilities by the and
1Or the people This tendency 10 cor
operation and collection action has re-
suited IN this particular case in so
brilliant e result that the most deter
mined anG-sOci2list must duly aupre-
CiaJe the children's thousands Of arbor
gardens round about the city. It is an
experiment En- grOs which ne see IN
Berlin, one OF such dimensions that
csvii ceases and admiration rises su
prene.
Parents were induced 10 rent, at a
nominal price Of four marks rSD. OF
about % 70 5 cents q month. for the
W ole sumner season. a patch OF land IN
the suburbs OF Berlin. available for The
purpose n view. but unfit fo- farm land
because cut up by railroad tracks and
newly la1d-Out streets On one OF these
patches e family might erect an erbor. OF
e small structure OF boards with q wide
veranda and a corrugated iron roof, for
housing themselves and children during
the summer months. Fences were built
OF w1re so as TO keep 'the different plots
apart
'Oa these patches ths children. under
guidance Of teachers, parents, and aD-
pointed guardians, began 20 sow seeds.
plant shrubs, vines. and trees. OF raise
kitchen vegetables each group OF family
according 20 its own desires and needs.
Since the 'arbOrs' are small they do not
decrease the arabls land Of the aIIot-
1nents much, and there is still room
enough left for swings. Rymaastic ap-
paratus, and similar cOnrrivauces. as
well as bare sandy spots for little tots 10
play in. The various aliotmeats are
mostly uniform IN size. and can be reach
ed by narrow three or four foot lanes, on
which occasionally are seen probationary
officers or guardians who keep the peace
and settle cases Of disturbance.
Location OF the Gardens.
The 'arbor gardens are established On
every square rod Of unused land around
about tho city. between railroads. on va
cant lots. far out 10 the borders OF the
well-trained woods. and royal forests.
Small tradesmen, laboring men, civil Of
1cials OF low degree, &c. have found Il
profitable 10 forsalze their tenemeuts IN
the city and move kith and kin into these
'srbor colonies The dwellings they erect
are CT the most primitive kind, and rather
1iusy: no permanent structure can be al
lowed 20 the teleut. for az any time the
owner OF The land may give notice 10 va
cate for the purpose Of erecting a row
OF houses. railroad buildings, OF other
permanent structures
Not all Of these arbor gardens are oc-
cUpied by families during the night
Thousands return 10 their city homes. for
the night. Some parents, unable TO free
themselves from duties IN town. send
their children under guidance Of servants.
and spend only Sundays and holidays
with them The people. especially the
children getting some information con-
ceru-ng the treatment Of The crops from
competent advisers in school and out n
The erb0r colonies. derive a great deal
Of good from their horticultural and for
iculrural work Families who are aes-
theticsIly inclined devote their space 70
flowers and trailing vines exclusively.
Others. utlItarians from necessity. plant
potatoes. carrots. turnips. beets. beans.
Strawberries. and the Ike.
Several hundreds or a thousan5 Of
such patches OF land. or gardens. situated
+ close proximity 70 each other. and
separated only by wire fences and narrow
lanes, form an arbOr colony. which has e
governor or mayor. who is ar unpaid CITY
ofiic-oL He arranges the leasing OF the
ground collects the rents. and hands
them over 20 the owners Of the land.
There is always a retired merchant OF
clFL oIIlcer who IS pu5lic-spirited enough