The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-12
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
BY Mabel Horner, County Supt.
Arbor Day Named by Governor.

AEUOT Lay 1NNAlCu w NAosSAHVAs
Gov. George w. Clarke Saturday
Issued a proclamation naming April
"a as Arbor Day. 1t follows:
''In an article in the Register and
Leader of Feb. 20, 1914, entitled
1.-THE Forests of Iowa. Mr.. H. c.
Evans of Des Moines said: There
is an old elm in the yard of the
J. J. Selman home in Bloomfield that
Is probaly the largest tree in the
state. The writer has had intimate
acquaintance for over fifty years with
another old elm few miles north
east of Bloomfield. This tree was
monarch of the forest ere the white
man set foot on Iowa soil. 1t was
known to the Indian and the wild
beasts hundred years before the in
dependence Of our country. 1t is
probably 800 years old. 1t reached
its splendid proportion through great
tribulations. In spite of wind and
weather. We have seen its splendid
branches whipped almost to the
breaking point by terrific winds. 1t
stands so high above the surrounding
objects that twice it has attracted
the lightning and it is SCARED from
tip to base. For more than seventy
years children have found play
ground beneath it's shade. 1t has
withstood droughts and storms, the
rigors of many winters, and assaults
of men and nature and has not it's
fellow in beauty and grandeur for
miles around. There is majesty and
gripping pathos about the everlast-
ing silence, it's tranquil silence
'How fine, how great thing it
would be to plant tree to withstand
the storms and beautify landscape
and shelter and refresh by it's shade
for centuries. Plant trees on the
school grounds of Iowa. Keep rec
ord of the planting-when and by
whom-that future generations may
call your name blessed. All is for
the future. Remember that and con-
tribute something to make life in the
coming years desirable, beautiful,
great. Fail not to do so in many
ways, but plant trees.
I'm the hope of encountering the
planting do hereby designate Fri
day, April "a, as Arbor Day, and re-
commend that it be generally observ-
ed, but more especially by those in
charge Of our schools, in such man
ner as may be deemed will best SUBJ
serve the purpose of the day.
In testimony whereof, l have
hereunto set my hand and caused to
be affixed the great seal of the state
OF Iowa this 23rd day of February,
\. d. 1874.
G.. w. CLARKE,
Governor"
:: :: ::
Between seventy-five and one hun
dred teachers, and many visitors were
present at the first annual meeting
OF the Decatur County Educational
Association, February 28th. We be-
lieve that if the roads had been in
better condition at least two-thirds
Of the teaching force of the county
would have been in attendance. The
program was carried out largely as
scheduled. The teachers entered
freely into the discussions. The
meeting was pervaded by spirit of
interest, enthusiasm and good will.
The address delivered by the pres-
dent of the association, Chas. B.
. Woodstock, and by Doctor Hugh S.
Buffum, were both strong in their
sincerity and simplicity, and in the
lOftiness of the ideals set before the
teacher The plan of having the as
sociation divided into High School,
Graded Schools and Rural Schools
departments with special programs
for each proved eminently satisfac-
tory. On the whole we consider it
the best day for the schools in the
history of the present superintendent
cy, with a possible exception Of De-
catur County School Rally Day, the
fourteenth of last June. The most
ui, %ho,, ol, IN, tbiS
ton is that the splendid activities of
last Saturday grew out Of the dark
est day of the year (for the superin- |
tendent)
That never-to- be-forgotten Deem
Der goth, when the first school eXhib
it ended in slump and financial en-
barassment stared the rural contests
in the face On that day the faithful |
few who dared to brave the inclem-
ency of the weather. organized the |
Educational Association which we
believe will prove most efficient
factor in the promotion of the edu-
cational welfare of the county.
:: :: ::
The National Educa tional Assoca- |
ton holds it's annual meeting at St. |
Paul, July to II. st. Paul was
selected for this meeting of teachers
for the accommodation of teachers in ,
the middle west Decatur county |
teachers who are not attending sum-
mer schools should as far as possible |
arrange to attend this meeting. Min
nesOta is a state of wonderful re-
sources. A trip to St. Paul with Wis
It's to other Minnesota points of in
terest has in itself great educative
values. Teachers who expect to at
tend are invited to correspond with |
the county superintendent in regard
to the matter
Among the Schools.
Decatur county has another oc-
casion for rejoicing in the victory
won by Miss Nancy Kemp of the Leon
High School in the SubDistrict De-