A CAPITAL IDEA 95 



your grass. Cut your own flowers and let your neighbor cut his. 

 Come, let's find a way to make Washington beautiful. 



The aim throughout was to inculcate respect for others' property 

 and labor and to furnish pleasure to others by attractive surround- 

 ings. This is as clear in the accompanying second grade contri- 

 bution as in the talk to the high school students. 

 Grass. 

 Listen to me children, I want a chance to grow. 

 I will help to make your city beautiful. 



Edward G 2A Grade 



"keep your parks clean" 



In co-operation with the American Forestry Association a 

 demonstration was given to the public that it is possible for 2,000 

 children to have their lunches in the open and leave the grounds 

 sightly for those who follow. Of course this required some training 

 beforehand but such training is what our nation needs. The 

 unsightliness of public parks on Monday morning after the use 

 of them by the general public on Sundays is general throughout. 

 Pictures were taken of some of the most beautiful spots around 

 Washington before the park force had removed Sunday papers 

 and lunch boxes. One photographer counted 107 sheets of 

 newspapers in Potomac Park. With such a basis we taught what 

 should be done and did it. After our 2,000 children left Rock 

 Creek Park, the superintendendent of the park reported that his 

 force had no evidence of the presence of such a gathering but 

 the well filled trash cans. One boy wrote to the secretary of 

 the Forestry Association "If the children of other cities leave their 

 picnic grounds as spick and span as we left ours, I am sure that 

 the amount of forest fires in the United States will be greatly re- 

 duced" which is another angle to be considered, for instruction, 

 that of leaving camp sites clean. 



Washington children are being taught to take their share of 

 responsibility in the upkeep of the Capital. Can you instruct 

 your congressman to do his share by them? Give him a capital 

 idea: 



Washington's Schools Should Be Second To None. 



