Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-01-11
civic EDUCATION.
Importance of Properly Training
the Rising Generation.
LESSONS ON NATURE NEEDED
Value Of Encouraging Children In
Schools to Become Interested Slowly,
but Surely, In Trees and Plant Life.
Fine Outcome Of Such a Course.


If in the future we are to have
more beautiful cities and towns in
both increased numbers as well as in
improvement of those now existing.
1t behOOves us to see that the rising
generation is so developed and so in
structed that 1t may be fully equal to
the problems that will confront our
citizens a score or more years hence.
Though much of the necessary educa
tion and training will be given in the
home. by far the greater development
should come as a result of intelligent
teaching and suggestion at school. AS
large part of our civic (and home)
beauty is dependent upon horticulture.
nature study especially that of plant
life, and the school gardens are going
to prove the two strongest factors in
the upbuilding of the civic improve
ment worker who is to follow us.
Our children must be taught in
natural way about the things Of ma
ture all about them. This develop
ment will not come by the present
day examining process or impartng
an astounding lot of information dur
ing a few years. The child rather,
should be encouraged to become in
tcrested slowly. but surely. until the
proper taste for investigation is de-
veloped in his mind so that he will
thenccforth go forward without the
aid of the teacher. except as the latter
is a steering committee" of one. says
the Los Angeles Times Restrictions
must be removed both at home and
school and the child allowed to invcs-
tigate unshacklcd.
But short time ago class Of
school children were asked how many
had street trees in front Of their
homes, and there were some who real
~ did not know whether any were
there or not: Others knew there were
trunks in evidence, but had no definite
knowledge as to a live head or crown
above. Very few knew the kind Of
tree that grew In the parkway. yet all
were old enough to know this much
and more regarding plant life. If each
child were asked to infinitely describe
the first street tree encountered after
leaving home for school and the pecul
ialitics Of form, bark. leaf. blossom or
fruit or both grand start could be
made. If the next day each child could
bring leaf from the same tree for
comparison. assisted by a really intel
ligent teacher, and this line Of work
carefully and Systematically followed
out. we would soon have cities and
towns composed entirely Of advocates
of street tree planting. for all would
love trees or be interested therein be-
cause of their intimate knowledge of at
least all the more common sorts.
When Il little older this student body
would so eagerly and easily take up
the study Of systematic planting that
the transition from mature study"
would exist in name only. At the end
Of their school days these students
would know practically all plant life
in all its phases. from seed to matu-
rity. not from what was taught at
school. for such instruction could form
but a small portion of the school day.
hut from observation ard experience
suggested at school. IF such Il course
were pursued for but one generation
our land throughout. both i'm city and
country. would be one vast park If in
dvidua plots connected and harmo-
uzcd by thoroughfarcs Ranked with
solid lines of street trees and endless
ribbons Of parkway lawns or flower
beds We would then hear no more of
lefty beautiful' or country brauti-
fan for all would be one vast stretch
Of horticultural beauty from the At
lantic to the Pacific. in all of which
territory southern California. having
the greatest possibilities. would stand
supreme over all other sections or
states as the land of never ending
summer sunshine and flowers.