The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-04-19

broaden our conception of education to
make it include not the learning of
certain rigamaroles only but also the
development of the capacity to enjoy
and appreciate and the ability TO create
and to do.
''In conformity to this idea the school
should be a means of awakening in the
pupils an interest in the things that
go to make life pleasant and, In the
largest sense. profitable. Certain out
ward conditions such as good buildings
well furnished and placed amid clean
and orderly surroundings are both an
evidence of civilization and an aid to
it's requirement.
"No people awake to their own in
terest will consent to live amid condi-
tions that speak only Of disorder, shift
Iessness and neglect. If country life is
often narrow, sorded and unlovely 1t is
because we have not the enterprise or
art to bring to 1t the many beautiful
and wholesome influences that are cas-
ily possible. It is the right and should
be privilege of all young people to be
shown the better way Whatever rea-
sons exist for making the home attrac-
tive apply with equal force to the
school while there are some important
reasons for ornamenting the school
grounds that do not apply to the home.
Suppose that each school house that
was standing fifteen or even twenty
years ago had been given a tract of
| two or three acres and this land had
been properly planted to vigorous long
| lived trees and adorned with shrubs and
| hardy flowers.
"Such spots would today be the social
centers OF the community. People
would gather there on all occasions and
! the benefit and stimulus they would
derive in their coming together for
sport, recreation or serious discussion
would have been worth a hundred
times more than all possible outlay.
while 1t is profitless to regret lost
opportunities yet they should teach us
present duties. The opportunity for
doing the wise thing always exists.
Ample School Grounds.
"The school grounds should be ample
enough to provide for good grove
planted so as to secure protection, 8
play ground large enough for all school
sports generous lawn and school
garden. A tract of two acres is not
too lagre for the consolidated schools
| while one acre is almost too small FOL
/ any school. "A south or east front offers
| advantages, particularly in the matter
of planting for protection. 1t is very
4 important to have a belt OF trees along
the north and also on the west IL pos
sible. A protection against the south
i winds at certain times Of the year II
also likely to be appreciated
1.-THE shelter belt is the most import.
ant feature and as 1T should endure fol
generations its planting is matter O
serious consideration. Simply to ri
up the soil and thrust in an aggrega
4 ton Of cottonwoods will not do. VIVA
il needed is a substantial belt of dens,
growing, long lived trees. The varieties
viii depend somewhat upon the locality
we have found the native ash sultet
to all locations It's rate Of growth vii
depend upon the amount of molstur
Ii receives and this In turn will depeni
upon cultivation and mulching. Wit
us the growth lis from one and a hal
30 two feet a. year. Trees thirty an
forty feet high are still making tn
same rate OF growth. In soil fart
moist such as one finds in many part
Alef the state, the elm makes more rap
ia growth but is not so reliable for gen
leral planting under all conditions.
I'm the southeastern portion Of m
state the soft maple succeeds very wei
II is Of rapid, dense growth and make