A Capital Idea from the Washington Schools 



The financial guardian of the schools of the District of Columbia 

 is the Congress of the United States. It has never been generous 

 with its ward. The introduction of new ideas is difficult. To 

 prove the worth of a new project, teachers have frequently raised 

 money by private means. Proving its worth does not always 

 mean that an appropriation will follow or that the growth of a 

 movement will bring a needed increase in appropriation. This 

 has been the history of school gardening and nature-study in 

 the Washington schools. The appropriation for them requires 

 earnest effort every year on the part of those interested. One 

 would think that the wise heads of the nation would see the large 

 return to the upkeep of nation's capital through the encouragement 

 of such teaching in the schools. A definite effort last spring to 

 show what could be done through the schools brought noticeable 

 results in the appearance of the city but nothing more for the 

 advancement of the work nor for putting on a permanent basis 

 that which had already been accomplished. Our method of 

 encouraging civic interest may be suggestive to others interested 

 in that subject and who have little money to push it. 



In the early spring, bunches of pussy willow were offered to 

 Normal students as prizes foi slogans that would carry the idea 

 to children. The following were selected; 



A Capital rnore beautiful, 

 Your job and mine. 



A Capital Idea: 



Washington the greatest garden in the world. 



Make your Capital grow. 

 Invest in a Washington garden 



Give your neighbor's grass a chance. 



Respect your neighbor's grass and flowers. 

 You will then enjoy your own. 



These were printed on placards by a colored high school class 

 on paper furnished by the community center and hung in prom- 

 inent places in every school in the city. 



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