The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-05-25
HOME GARDENS.
Supervised by Schools in the Interests
of City Children.

Supervised by Schools in the Interests
of City Children.
"The school garden idea is not fad. Y
declares DR.. G. ID. Jarvis, of the U. S.
bureau of education. 1T is an outward
expression of an Unborn belief on the
part of hundreds of teachers and edu-
Gators throughout this and other lands
that children need some kind of active
experience to vitalize their school stud
les. 1t is also an expression on the part
of thousands of parents of the belief
that in order to acquire habits of indus
try and to appreciate the dignity Of la
Dor, boys and girls at an early age
should be encouraged to engage in soma
kind of wholesome employment. Futher-
more, the various welfare associa tions,
the international Child Welfare league
in particular, are embracing the garden
movement with the belief that through
it thousands of boys and girls may be
saved from the evils attending eonfine-
ment in the shops, the mills, and the
mines.
Reasons for Former Failures.
SIN general, a varying degree OF sue
cess has followed the efforts of individual
teachers and of the various organizations.
Too often, however, EXTENSIVE garden pro-
jects have been undertaken without
carefully prearranged program, without
any provision for instruction and super
vision, and without sufficient funds to
properly administer the enterprise. On
account of these and other causes there
have been some failures. These failures,
however, have served to make us more
cautious and have helped us to formu-
late plans for the future development of |
the work.
Although the school officials general |
1y appreciate the Importance of garden
ing, they have been slow to take it up Al
part of the school program. They
would like to see the work standardized
and definite program substituted for
the chaotic mass of recommendations.
The lack of well-organized examples of
garden activities has probably been the
retarding factor"
Surveyed by Bureau Of Education.
TO satisfy the demand for some def
mite information, DIR. Jarvis points out,
the United States bureau of education
recently conducted survey of the school
garden work throughout the country. As
result of this survey a plan for the
introduction and promotion of garden
work in the schools has been made
available to school officials.
"The plan is a simple one. II il an
economical one. II does not in any way
interfere with the present school pro-
gram. II provides for intelligent in
struction and thorough supervision. 1t
provides for the utilization of unused
land and labor for productive purposes.
The children working under this plan ]
may contribute to the support OF the :
family, teaching them the fundamental I
principles of democracy and enabling I
them TO remain longer In school. Under '
1 his plan also the children are given an ]
for an active experience TO n
,itslize school studies and an oppor- a
tunity for acquiring q knowledge Of an
that may become the means 1
Of livelihood. The plan further pro- e
Nides for a wholesome occupation for y
boys and girls while out of school and y
thus stimulates industry at the receptive ?
age and guards against the evils attend
ing idleness. An additional result Of y
he plan in operation is an improvement 9
n home surroundings-bsck yards arc .
steamed M and the home grounds orna A
mented with shrubbery and flower Dor q
iers. .
Reaches Every City School ]
~The plan provides for q system Of
home gardening in each city graded
lchool. The home garden has many I'd.
rsntsees over the so-csIled garden where =
large number Of children are brought =
ogsther and zach given a small plot OF
IrOund on which 90 plant q few pennies
sorth Of seeds. The child's garden IN
ie home back yard. when under school
aiii supply every oppor
auity offered by the school garden and d
~ a. rBuch more. II assures ci0ser A
betvrsn home and school
nd provinces . better understanding b.
wen parent sns teErhrr. u ohfiatcs =
uauy 81 the trsubles ~ the school gar =
lsn. surh o. that ~ stealing. fsneiBF =
lrss~st sssr. lirnited ffluds SUMMER fscs =
sen. insufficient isna. snd etlsrf@ TIE =