THE EMBELLISHMENT OF SCHOOL GROUNDS. 97 



children took a strong interest in tlie matter, and enjoyed the 

 trees and the plants that came later. Children always take 

 interest when they have a chance. It is necessary to use judg- 

 ment in planting, that trees shall not interfere with the light, and 

 that nothing offensive shall arise from the presence of the plants. 



William D. Philbrick stated that in Newton improvements 

 similar to those mentioned by the last two speakers had been 

 made, and there is a very good feeling in regard to ornamenting 

 school grounds. What has been done there has been mostly with 

 trees and shrubs, and the results have been excellent. Plants 

 have been cultivated in the school-rooms, and when the janitors 

 have taken sufficient interest in them to care for them during 

 vacations they have flourished. The great difficulty in the way 

 of object teaching from plants, is that very few teachers are 

 competent to give practical lessons in plant culture out of doors. 



Rev. A. B. Muzzey remarked that there is a great deal said about 

 public schools now. He thought we should aim and strive so to 

 improve them that all children educated in the public schools 

 should have a fully developed character. It is a melancholy truth 

 that many boys will sooner injure a tree than cultivate it. If we 

 can induce children to cultivate trees and flowers they will feel a 

 love for them ; the heart follows the hand. But we must take 

 another step back of that ; we need to have teachers who under- 

 stand and love the cultivation of plants. In the examination of 

 teachers regard should be had to their taste and capacity in this 

 direction. The}^ should be prepared and disposed to cultivate in 

 their pupils a sense of beauty and a sacred regard for Nature. 

 These are fundamental points in the character of boys and girls, 

 and our schools should develop them. 



Samuel Hartwell said there is a new school-house to be built in 

 his town, Lincoln, and he wished to know how much land ought 

 to be taken to carry out the ideas suggested by the essayist and 

 others. He would have room for the boys to play base-ball, and 

 and thought there should be an acre and a half or two acres, 

 especially if flowers are to be cultivated, and that the law should 

 be so amended that school boards might seize more than the half 

 acre now allowed. He thought it important that children should 

 be trained to love and cultivate plants ; he loves to see them him- 

 self and wishes that such a love might be encouraged and that 

 more of our farms might be embellished with them. 

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