190 LANDSCAPE GARDENING 



SCHOOL GROUNDS 



In this so-called "age of the child" a great deal 

 of nonsense is being talked on all sides by more or 

 less well-informed enthusiasts about the duty of 

 the public to the rising generation. Amid a vast 

 deal of sentimental and useless agitation no small 

 amount of good has really been accomplished, not- 

 ably in providing recreation parks and play- 

 grounds and in making school grounds more at- 

 tractive and useful. 



It is essential that children should have plenty 

 of air and sunlight and room for running about 

 and playing active games (Fig. 44). The more 

 attractive school grounds can be made, the more 

 the children will use them, and will reflect the 

 pleasant out-door atmosphere within the buildings 

 themselves. 



As in all planting schemes, school grounds have 

 their esthetic and utilitarian features, and it is ad- 

 vantageous if the decorative planting can have an 

 educational emphasis as well. There are many 

 common and beautiful trees and shrubs which 

 every one should know, and these ought to be used 

 wherever possible, in order that the children may 

 become familiar with them. 



