Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-05-22
Schools Are Introducing Foresty.

Forestry is attracting wide atten-
ton among the schools of the United
States. Not only have many colleges
and universities introduced courses
and even professional schools Of
forestry. but elementary phases of
the subject have been introduced in
90 hundreds Of the graded and high
schools. and teachers give enthusiast
tic reports os the success which is
attending the new study Public
school teachers say that they have
found in it a subject interesting TO
children, and one which furnishes
much attractive. tangible material 20
work upon. developing the child s
observation. and being at once ac-
ceptable 20 the young mind. and most
practical.
The public schools Of Washington.
d. c., and of parts of Iowa are I'm the
vanguard OF this movement Every
graded school IN Washington and q
large number OF the rural schools Of
Pottawattamie County, Iowa. are
now teaching the elements OF forest
ry. In Iowa. the subject is being
taught as a commercial course I'm
connection with home geography and
agriculture while in the Washington
schools 70 is used In the nature study
courses. The four upper grades OF
/ the Washington schools are studying
the forest and this year all are fol-
lowing practically the same outline:
next year this outline will be con
fined 90 the fifth grade. while the
other grades will follow an outline
one step advanced and so on until
hy the fourth year a four.year course
will have been introduced AS a
preparation for this work. forestry
has been taught I'm the Normal School
of the District OF Columbia for sew
eral years past. and when the young
student teachers take up the actual
work OF teaching they are already ia
miliar with the details Of elementary
forest study. Prominent among the
other normal schools of the country
20 take up work OF this kind arc
those of Cleveland. Ohio. Rochester.
y. Y; and Joliet. I'M.
There is a section I'm the Forest
Service OF the q. s. Department OF
Agriculture which works In co-opera-
zion with schools In teaching forestry
ana IT'S related subjects This co.
operation is not limited TO technical
schools OF Forestry. IL Is equally omen
TO primary and kindergarten grades:
u ls as willing 10 nelp teach tree
study in first year nature-study
class as 90 assist in the establish
ment or q professional forest school
This section OF education. as Il is
called. is now working out model
courses OF study for graded and high
schools, I'M cooperation with the pub
Inc schools OF Washington. u. c.. and
Philadelphia, Pa The work in Phil
adelphia is being conducted by W.
y. Clifford. head or the Commerce
Department OF the Southern High
School where he is building up
modern equipment and evolving
practical system for the teaching OF
forestry in high schools
In Washington. the Section of Ed
ucation is directing a similar work
Tor graded schools In four OF the pub-
lie schools Of that city. Resides spe-
cial lessons in the class room. the
pupils collect and mount specimens
OF leaves. twigs. bark. and seeds. and
in connection with wood working
wood specimens of different CONNER
clal trees are prepared and placed in
cabinets. Opposite each wood sec
ton is placed the name Of the wood
It's qualities, and uses. Extensive
field work is planned for the spring
months, and the different classes will
be brought out into the woods. there
20 study the trees at first hand. AS
these courses are built up and tested
they Will be published from time To
time for distribution among teachers.
and II Is expected that the practical
line among which the courses are be
ing evolved will win for them a wide
Application in other schools.
Most OF the schools now teaching
forestry are using as text books sew.
eral OF the publications issued by the
Forest Service. Including Farmers
bulletin l73, "A Primer of Forest
~. The service also issues many
circulars dealing with local condi.
tons, which teachers in the locali-
ties dealt with might ind very use
tul. BY writing To the Forest Serv-
ice, Washington. d. C., as manv
| copies Of these various publications
as are needed for class room use. as
well as other helpful material and
information may be secured free OF
charge