Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-24

Capital Garden Club; O. H. Benson and
II. C. Thompson of the Department of
Agriculture, John L. Randall of the
United States bureau of education,
Charles F. Nesbit. Superintendent Of In
| surance. representing the District gov
rrnment, and Mrs. w. B. Hibbs. John
Dolph, Miss Markley. r. p. Andrews,
Miss Anne Beers. Miss Lydia Burklin,
| Miss Susan b. Sipe. Miss Julia NJ. Raw
lings, Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter Mrs.
George w. Kernodle and Mrs Fulton
Lewis.
Mrs. Rafter, who organized the meet
ing yesterday. will call meeting of
the central committee shortly. at which
the work by selecting chairman and
to appoint from the membership an ex-
ecutive committee and other committees
to handle special phases of the work.
addresses by Supt. Thurston, o. H.
Benson Mr.. Randall. Mr.. Connolly and
short talks by representatives Of the
Boy Scouts. Girl Scouts and the JEFF
ferson-Amidon School Gardening clubs.
Plan for Extending Work.
Mr.. Thurston outlined plan for ex-
tension Of home gardening work of the
schools Teachers are to be appointed
in various sections: they are to super
wise demonstration plots and go with
groups of children to the home gardens
of the children.
Johnny may have troubles in his
garden which model garden would
not dare to nave" explained Mr. Thurs
ton. And what is the matter with
Johnnys garden may serve to help
solve one OF Mary's problems, too"
Mr.. Thurston said that the demand
for this work was atteSted by the fact
that I75 900 packages of seed had been
i'm p1a n
children for use in their school and
home plots.
In a civic way the home garden
movement will contribute to the city
permanent clean ~up-paint-up' cam
paign." Mr.. Thurston continued. AS a
school man. l rejoice exceedingly in the
widespread interest in this movement.
hope it will be reflected i'll the attitude
OF parents in encouraging ehiiaren
efforts A school system is not worth
while unless it comes in contact at all
angles with the community life That
is why l personally have encouraged
school cooperation in sach movements
as safety first, fire prevention and paper
collections.
District Shifts for Self.
The District of Columbia was de-
scribed bv O. H. Benson IS "a sort of a
little orphan of the United States" He
explained that the hoiiiii az, eiiS
Hatch-Adams act, the Smith-Lever act
and the Smith-Hughes bill introduced
but not passed) all provided for the
expenditure of large sums of money for
education in every state in the Union,
but leach neglected the national or
phan, Washington
II suppose all of you civic workers
find that there is too much good start
ing and a lot of mighty poor finishing
in all movements" Mr.. Benson SAID. If
this movement succeeds. and l believe
it will, it will be because you citizens
here this afternoon are wiling TO sac
rifice social pleasures and stay right on
the job. to help deliver the goods.
II claim on the part of my boy the
interest of the school system in the
summer months, as well as during the
school term. If the city can AFFORD to
pay for nine months of teaching him
arithmetic, it can afford to pay teachers
for three months to help teach nm
from the great book of nature"
In addition to paid leadership. MI.
Benson stated there must be volunteer
leaders in every section. He said EN-
phasis must be laid on "follow-up work
which will be needed to give the move
ment its second wind"
Vegetables on Front Lawns.
One auditor asked about law in the
District which. he said. prohibits grow
ing vegetables in the front lawn. Miss
Anne Beers, who presided, said the
committee would try to ascertain