1 6 o THE NA TUKE- S TUD Y RE VIE W U'-S-may, i 908 



It is with great regret that we notice this condition of affairs 

 in our schools. The beginning of the change in our educational 

 ideals was heralded in 1903 when the State Legislature passed a 

 law making it possible to consolidate the rural school districts. 

 This step, significant as it is as a beginning, will never have the 

 desired effect as long as the country schools continue to follow the 

 courses of study laid out for city schools. These courses must be 

 reorganized and adapted to meet the needs of the rural communi- 

 ties. We believe that the nature-study idea properly applied will 

 prove the means of solving many of the hitherto discouraging and 

 perplexing problems which beset those who are working for the 

 betterment of our rural schools. 



The practical and far-reaching values of school-gardens have 

 already been fully-demonstrated abroad, in Canada and in the 

 eastern States. In California, however, the school-garden is in the 

 experimental stage and we are just beginning to realize its possi- 

 bilities. Surely California of all places ought to be a splendid 

 field, because the climate and soil conditions are so favorable. 

 Oakland and San Jose have established gardens in connection 

 with their public schools. In the former over one thousand 

 children possess gardens and work them successfully. The 

 normal schools have for many years made gardening a center for 

 their courses in elementary agriculture and the nature-study work 

 of the training departments. Sporadically by civic clubs and 

 others interested in bettering the conditions of the poor chil- 

 dren, gardening has been used effectively in the slum districts of 

 Los Angeles. The general adoption of the school-garden, how- 

 ever, is one of our "futures." It has splendid promises and is 

 worthy immediate acceptance in both rural communities and 

 large cities. 



In the field of forestry and irrigation there is again room for 

 practical nature-study to do effective work. The problem is just 

 being brought home to us by the statement of Secretary Wilson 

 who says: "If better care, a more general propagation, and a 

 fostering of present conditions are not observed, the forests of the 

 United States will be practically wiped out inside another ten 

 years." We need to have the public conscience aroused to the 

 realization of the crime it is committing against the welfare of the 

 future generations by laying waste to our forests, and especially 

 here in California, destroying our water resources. Why not be- 



