AMONG SCHOOL GARDENS 



for Surrey, gives "in round figures 8300 pupils 

 receiving instruction in gardening at 600 ele- 

 mentary day schools throughout England." 

 These, as well as the ''evening school gardens" or 

 ''continuation gardens," are steadily increasing. 

 Some counties make liberal grants for the work 

 while others are parsimonious. The evening 

 school gardens were first established in Surrey in 

 1892, and are intended for boys employed during 

 the day. To such the teacher or gardener of the 

 day school classes gives individual attention twice 

 a week in lessons of at least an hour. The school 

 garden plot is usually one rod square. "There 

 must be a teacher for at least every fourteen 

 boys." The pupils must be eleven years of age 

 or older. Prizes are given to both the boys and 

 the teacher. Indeed, the teachers' salaries are 

 determined somewhat by the total number of 

 marks given to each garden and its relation to the 

 county's average as determined by the county in- 

 spector. Salaries for a garden are based upon a 

 fee of three shillings a pupil for each plot culti- 

 vated throughout the summer, with the addi- 

 tion of merit grants according to the rating of the 

 garden. Sometimes the teacher having the best 

 garden in the county, "the county premier," is 

 awarded a medal or silver watch. 



In Switzerland almost alone we find emphasis 

 placed upon the pedagogic and the utilitarian 

 value of the school garden. For some years, 

 the Swiss have kept both ends equally in view. 



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