220 STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



ment of Public Instruction at Lansing; at least enough that the matter shall 

 be given a special place in every State institute held under the management 

 of the department. 



4. Ask the authorities of the State Normal School to insert somewhere in 

 their curriculum a short course of instruction that shall have for its direct 

 object the practical employment of horticultural and botanical knowledge in 

 the embellishment of school grounds, with such material as can be employed 

 in giving valuable lessons to the children in our schools ; and further ask that 

 examinations be given upon this subject as upon any other study in the 

 course ; thus giving to the term 



KINDERGARTEN 



A meaning quite in accord with its literal translation, and to the furtherance 

 of its methods an impetus that shall be felt in our rural schools. 



5. Interest the few teachers who attempt something in the way of ornament- 

 ing the school premises with the aid of the pupils, to give, in detail, their 

 methods and results, so that these may be published for the benefit of others 

 who may attempt something of the kind. 



G. Induce, if possible, local agricultural societies to offer small premiums to 

 schools for the display at their annual fairs of some results of undertakings in 

 this direction, in the form, perhaps, of bouquets, cut flowers, designs, etc. 



7. Importune the State Teachers' Association to give the matter their 

 thoughtful consideration, witli the hope of evolving some good methods of 

 prosecuting this work through the enlistment of the teachers in our union 

 schools, wlio have under their tuition so many young people who go directly 

 from them into rural schools as teachers. 



7. Lastly we suggest the following as a sort of syllabus, to be used as a 

 skeleton, to be clothed properly and given life at institutes, conventions, and 

 associations, which meet in the interests of schools or rural occupations. 



ORNAMENTING SCHOOL PREMISES. 



1. Purposes to be subserved : 



a. Awakening love for the school and its work ; 

 /;. Add means of ilh^stration ; 



c. Develop observing powers in children ; 



d. Instruction in practical horticulture; 



e. Education of good taste which shall reach into the homes; 

 /. Give a park-like eifect to school yards; 



[). Add a means of discipline; 

 //. Give variety to school life. 



2. Difficulties to surmount: 



a. Prejudice of patrons; 



h. Lack of training in teachers; 



c. Unsettled work of teachers; 



d. Narrow limits of grounds; 



e. Infringement upon the play-ground. 



3. Methods of work : 



a. Protection of the premises; 



b. Who shall do tlie work; 



c. The children as policemen ; 



d. Improvements to consist of 



1. Specimens from native flora; 



