376 NATURE-STUDY 



and grounds attractive or * even respectable. There are 

 many "ragged beggars" still sunning at the country cross- 

 roads. Many jails have finer grounds, and consist of more 

 substantial, and elegant buildings than our country and 

 village schools. Most farmers surround their homes with 

 groves and flowers, but the country school across the road 

 where their children go is barren and ugly. No wonder 



FIG. 160. A Typical Country School in Need of Shade Trees. 



that so many children dislike to go to school. Make the 

 school-houses attractive inside and out, surround them with 

 shade trees, shrubbery, flowers, and grassy lawns, and the 

 pupils will be drawn to such schools rather than repelled 

 by their barrenness and ugliness. 



Since the regular observance of Arbor Day much has 

 been done to make the surroundings of the rural and town 

 schools more attractive. Much, however, has been done 

 poorly and without system. The way to improve a school- 



