The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-08-29
THE SCHOOL YARD +
AND 0UTBU|tD|NGS
Their Care Reflects Conditions
In Town or City.
MIRRORS OF PUBLIC PRIDE.
The Average Concern as to Private
Property Finds Itself Repeated In
the School Grounds of Conn, unity.
How They Can Be Beautifed.

In a recent bulletin prepared by the
extension department of the Ohio State
university Professor \. &. Graham
points out that it is not uncommon to
find in the dwelling house and the
grounds surrounding it manifestation
Of pride in private property. The house
and barn, outbuildings and fences
show an appreciation Of the beautiful.
From year to year more good taste is
displayed in a greater number Of orna
mental paintings and in the keeping
of the lawn. The pines and spruces,
which in an earlier day We're set so
thickly that they practically hid the
residence, have been cut from directly:
in front of the house 50 as to make it
central point Of observation. Local
pride also n:anifeSts itself in clean
fence rows. graveled driveways and
moved roadsides.
What might be considered an aver
age pride as to the private property
finds itself reflected in the school
grounds of that community. The pride
Of the community as IL whole is very
often far below that shown in it's best
private properties. The school grounds
are but mirrors in which the communi-
ties can see their own pride reflected.
An ash pile that has accumulated for
years shows the greatest degree of in
difference on the part of both teachers
and patrons, for its removal from the
front door is an Improvement that may
be easily made.
Perhaps the most demoraizing agen-
cy on rural school property is the i'm
properly cared for Outbuiiding. Ex-
posed outDuildinys can be screened
with few paintings that in 4 short
time will hide them. 1t will pay any
community to direct it's attention to
the cleaning up and placing in proper
condition Of all of these buildings so
that those from self respecting families
may not have their sense of common
decency and propriety offended. The
coal house or wood house. which fur
niShes a place for the bill poster to
practice his art, should be so far back
from the road that he cannot reach it
without making an extra effort. Bill
posting of every kind on school prop
erty ought to be prohibited. This build
ing is driven to only a few times
year by those who haul fuel. and the
so called convenience that comes from
it's being near the road is more than
offset by it's detraction from the gen
| eral appearance of the front of the
hn1co Op6 II fGc
paths from the road to the front en-
trance, to the well curb and perhaps
| the outbuilding should be made Of such
material that they will always be in
proper condition to be used as walks.
In most places where trees have been
planted the entire front of the house is
hidden. If the planting We're well to
| the left and right of the building. max
ing the house the central point. with
a grass plot in front, the picture pre-
sented to the passerby would be much
more pleasing. Low paintings, such as
lilacs, snowballs, hardy hydrangeas.
Towering ounce and syringas should
be planted in masses around the Dor
ders and in the corners Of the school
lot. The lawnmower should be used
upon the front Of the school yard. Too:
often the yards are allowed to grow
up to tall weeds which are cut down
only a week or two before school be-
gins.
The school yard may be planted in
such way that there will be beautiful
pieces of shrubbery in bloom before
the school closes, bright colored foliage
for the fall and for winter arched and
groined palaces formed by the snow
laden branches of the trea and bushes.
Such school properties as command the
admiration and respect of the OCCASION
nj visitor Of the school as we'll rs the
patrons. children and teachers make
better citizens. happier children and
more hopeful teachers