South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-12
CHILDREN TO
OBSERVE ARBOR DAY
superintendent of Public
Instruction Issues Book
let to Teachers.

news llIneS SPECIAL service
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, April IA
Charles A. Greathouse. state super
intendent of public instruction. has
issued an Indiana Arbor az bird
Day booklet, in which schools Of
the state are urged TO observe
spring arbor and bird day, Friday
April 81. Within the book is
proclamation from Gov. Ralston.
setting aside that day as an arbor
and birds day, and urging the public
schools to observe the day and the
people Of the state to plant trees and
shrubbery on that day.
A letter from Mr.. Greathouse TO
the young people. teachers and
school officials Of Indiana. follows
the governors proclamation. Then
come suggestive programs for rural
and city schools and a list Of sug-
gestive topics for arbOr day exercises.
The letter from Mr.. Greenhouse to
the school people OF the state fol-
lows:
The observance OF special days in
the year fails utterly OF its purpose if
the spirit of the occasion closes with
the day
The object Of Arbor and Bird day
is not simply 10 plant a tree. make
a birdhouse and otherwise dedicate
an hour or two 10 the service Of ma
ture The tree must be watched ana
matured until II has grown large and
strong. ard then il must be preserved
fully 10 serve mankind The bird
house must be placed where IL Will
invite nesting birds and where it will
be guarded from storms and other
destructive agencies
state Should be Richer
But even more than this. if the day
has been, as IL should be- the type
Of many other days in the year. there
should he tangible results in evil
l-dence The state should he richer
I in trees, shrubbery. the birds should
be more numerous. and the farmer
and the town and city dweller
should see a marked change in the
attitude of old and young toward the
growing plants under their test and
the sinsing birds over their heads.
A gospel of more and better trees
and birds must be spread abroad in
this state. and the boys and girls of
our public schools must be the mes
sengers, making the lessons OF Ar
Dor and Bird day reach every citizen.
until the triumph OF the observance
is manifest because all the people of
the state are uniting systematically
10 plant appropriate trees and shrub
berry on school grounds. private
property vacant places in the city
and town and along the country
roadside.
Samuel NJ. Ralston. governor Of
Indiana. has. in accordance with the
statutes. designated Friday. April 21
1916. 10 be observed as ArbOr and
Bird day. and has invited the public
and the public schools TO observe
that day by tree planting and ap-
propriate programs
Lawns Might be Improved.
Count the trees on your school
grounds and see II by adding 10 their
number YOU can improve the beauty
and comfort of the surroundings.
Examine your home lawns and the
places along the roads and street and
decide if these can be improved 10y
! the planting of trees and shrubbery
and by the building and placing of
birdhouses.
I want the boys and girls Of our
public school not only 10 make the
Arbor and Bird day OF 1916 the best
we have ever observed. in the full
ness of the work and the character
of the program but 20 dedicate
themselves as enthusiastic agents
during the entire year to keep be
fore the people the great need OF our