corson ] EL EMENTA R Y SCIENCE IN NE WARK 217 



system, mathematics, thrift, industry, and is thus of great 

 educational benefit. 



The work of the Shade Tree Commission of the city is reinforced 

 and the attempt is made to secure the interest and active coopera- 

 tion of the children in the preservation of shade trees on the 

 streets and shrubbery in the public parks. In some schools there 

 are made tree maps of the school blocks. The Commission has 

 been requested to distribute the elms, poplars, lindens, maples, 

 and other trees so that the children might become interested in 

 and familiar with the various kinds of trees, and to tag one of a 

 kind on each city block to assist in their recognition. To some 

 extent the request has been complied with, and it is believed it 

 will be granted in full in due time. The study of trees is pursued 

 in the winter as well as at any other season. Trees are as interest- 

 ing then as at any time. The symmetry, the strength, the grace, 

 and the delicacy are revealed in the winter even more than in the 

 summer, but there is even here more involved than interest in the 

 trees themselves, although that is of prime importance. It is to 

 cause children to realize their part as members of society and the 

 common duty of preserving and protecting that which is for the 

 enjoyment and good of the whole community. Such instruction 

 may be made valuable as part of the training for good citizen- 

 ship. 



The economic phase of plant life and the value and need of 

 scientific culture of our forest areas receive attention. Arbor 

 Day celebrations emphasize this, but it is taught also in the 

 regular recitations. It is best, however, to have experts to do 

 it. It is unreasonable to expect that the class teacher with many 

 subjects and many practical difficulties to engross her attention 

 should acquire the scientific information necessary. To insure 

 the most satisfactory treatment, there has been given for two 

 years, in the spring, what is called "The Children's Course of 

 Illustrated Lectures in Elementary Science." The plant pro- 

 ducts useful to man as food, beverages, clothing, or medicine, and 

 the study of plants injurious to man, mammals, birds, glaciers, 

 pre-historic plants, electricity, light, sound, properties of matter 

 (with simple experiments) were some of the subjects. The 

 lectures were more instructive than entertaining, and the speakers 

 were authorities in their respective fields. There was much 

 interest on the part of teachers and children. The notes which 



