anaheim-gazette 1909-10-21

GARDENING IN THE SCHOOLS SUGGESTIONS FOR BEAUTIFYING INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING Fundamental Prerequisites to all True Nature Study—Conception of the Subject is Not General—Infusing New Ideals Into Minds of Teachers We have been favored with a copy of an illustrated circular issued by the University at Berkeley, prepared by Ernest B. Babcock, upon "Suggestions for Garden Work In California Schools," a work of timely interest to students and educators throughout the State. The circular is issued by the agricultural experiment station of the university, which is in charge of Prof. Wickson, than whom there is no one in California better equipped to speak. From its pages we gather that the movement, so far from being a fad, is a fundamental prerequisite to all true nature-study, and the value and place of true nature-study is now firmly established. The term nature-study is more or less familiar to all, but the conception of the meaning of real nature-study is not so general. However, the works of Hodge, Jackman, Bailey, Holtz, and others and the "Nature-Study Review," the official organ of the Nature-Study association, together with the efforts of educational institutions from the national bureau down to the individual normal schools, are all helping to infuse the new ideals into the minds of American teachers. Nature-study is many sided. The physical, biological, the agricultural phases all have their valuable features, but authorities are quite generally agreed their hands so? "Of what value are school gardens? What can they be depended upon to do? Certainly, what they have done, at least. They have given whole schools a new incentive, and have raised the daily attendance materially; they have proved an open sesame into both the problems and interests of life to children always before considered dull; in cities where some children had school gardens and some had not, the former are reported to have made much greater development in a given time than the latter; after certain schools had allowed their children to devote as much as two hours a day to their gardens the pupils accomplished more with their regular studies during the rest of the day than they had done before in all the time. Country children have become interested in the science of their future life occupation, and so have been taught to think for themselves and to respect their calling. Children have been taught through these gardens more about practical ethics than by any other means yet devised, besides learning something of the fundamental occupation of mankind—tilling the earth." These words, from the pen of an authority who has examined the history of school gardens from their origin and investigated their status in all countries, are words not to be lightly set aside or forgotten. Therefore, it is with the hope that more people may be interested and more teachers encouraged in beginning garden work in the public schools that this circular is issued. Purpose of the Circular 1. To interest California educators in the subject of school gardens; (a) By telling and illustrating some things that have been done. (b) Through suggesting what may be accomplished by our school child-sensus of opinion writers is that training in agriculture be made in every use of a text compelled by them may be the success introduction in connection with the primary grass and the emphasis experimental on pupils along with study of agriculture to give infiniteWhat TeachSome California duct garden will have replied to the experiment whom reports speak favorable school garden from Miss Zilko in Ventura, are "Our garden This is really been carried out Our grounds are small, for so small as they are fold for ever Last fall we nibbles and have etables have fall crop was the vegetable allowed the ever they wish were not too lowed. Some invested six or es and lettuce found the borage have vines placed there will be "With the girl the chap their play to Some of the Nature-Study Review," the official organ of the Nature-Study association, together with the efforts of educational institutions from the national bureau down to the individual normal schools, are all helping to infuse the new ideals into the minds of American teachers. Nature-study is many sided The physical, the biological, the agricultural phases all have their valuable features, but authorities are quite generally agreed that, if any one phase deserves prominence, that phase is the agricultural especially when introduced through garden work. As the result of local efforts, made from time to time throughout the state, many successful children's gardens are flourishing today. But these are as yet confined too largely to the cities and towns. The patrons and teachers of rural schools seem less willing to take up this new line of work. There are many reasons for this attitude and one may not criticize without due regard for these reasons. On the other hand schools of many of our most progressive cities and towns are as yet unprovided with proper facilities for garden work. These conditions exist although it is largely a matter of realizing the great desirability of this phase of school life and then having the will to secure it. We wish that every teacher in California might read the report on School Gardens written for the National Bureau of Education by James Ralph Jewell. In concluding Mr. Jewell writes as follows: "Are there too many obstacles in the way of establishing and maintaining a garden in connection with the average school, urban or rural, to prevent its being a success? I believe not. I do not know in what other undertaking there are so many demonstrations that where there is a will there is a way. There is no record of a failure in any city slums except for want of funds, although, so far as I know, every neighborhood has been, if not hostile at the first, at least incredulous of the possibility of success. It would perhaps be hard to name a difficulty which has not been overcome or circumvented in some way by the enthusiasm of the children and the careful planning of a competent teacher. Nor is this educational agency confined to the city schools. In Europe the school garden is held to be especially an adjunct of the rural lightly set aside or forgotten. Therefore, it is with the hope that more people may be interested and more teachers encouraged in beginning garden work in the public schools that this circular is issued. Purpose of the Circular 1. To interest California educators in the subject of school gardens; (a) By telling and illustrating some things that have been done. (b) Through suggesting what may be accomplished by our school children under proper leadership. 2. To give brief directions and suggestions for the use of those who have no other guide at hand and a list of references to easily available literature. 3. To state briefly what opportunities there are in California to obtain special preparation for teaching elementary agriculture including school gardening. The Garden Movement School garden beginnings in America formed only a part of a greater garden movement, which had its origin some fifteen years ago. Certain practical philanthropists in our large cities saw the need of providing work for the unemployed. As a result of their early efforts we now have such institutions as the Philadelphia Vacant Lots Cultivation association, which helps hundreds of poor families to better their own circumstances, and the Cleveland Home Gardening association, which annually sells over 700,000 packets of flower and vegetable seed to school children at the price of one cent per packet. The pioneer in school gardens in America is Mrs. Henry (Fannie G.) Parsons, Director of The First Children's School Farm in New York City and President of the International Children's School Farm League. If every teacher in California were willing to overcome difficulties only a fraction as great as those surmounted by Mrs. Parsons in her determination to see "children in their natural environment, in close touch with nature and allowed an opportunity to develop their own individuality," there would be less need for exhortation. The early and successful efforts of certain schools and institutions have had their share of influence. Such are Hemenway's Junior Horticulturist's School at Hartford, Conn., the Fairview gardens for poor children at Yonkers, N. Y., the Whittier garden on Thursday Bernardino out of the m to the without from further verside Wathe San Bernardo. The split Nor is this educational agency confined to the city schools. In Europe the school garden is held to be especially an adjunct of the rural school; in Canada the consolidated rural schools have the best gardens. True, there cannot be a very elaborate garden at a school of only ten or a dozen children; but Superintendent Kern (of Winnebago county, Illinois) and others have taught the teachers under them to make the most possible of gardens in very small rural schools, with no aid except that so readily given by the children. It is strange that other countries think gardens especially fitted for rural schools, while we think them better for city schools. Probably it is because we are apt to fold our hands complacently and say that the children of our rural communities learn practical agriculture at home. Well and good, but do they learn the best? Would not the school garden in the country teach even more than the children pick up from what they see done at home? How many a farm boy, who will practice farming all his life, goes through his school life in the school and at home without knowing how the roots of corn spread out, or how to cultivate the corn properly to insure the largest yield, except as he follows what he sees others do and without knowing a hundred things of the kind which science is waiting for him to learn and utilize? How many country boys have been given anything to think of as they hoe potatoes except that their city cousins are not blistering natural environment, in close touch with nature and allowed an opportunity to develop their own individuality," there would be less need for exhortation. The early and successful efforts of certain schools and institutions have had their share of influence. Such are Hemenway's Junior Horticulturist's School at Hartford, Conn., the Fairview gardens for poor children at Yonkers, N. Y., the Whittier garden at the Hampton Institute, Hampton, Va., and the County schools of Winnebago Co., Illinois. But it was not until the United States Department of Agriculture and certain of the state experiment stations became actively interested in elementary education in agriculture that the full importance and unlimited possibilities of school gardens came to be realized in this country. The ultimate aim of these institutions is the elevation of the agricultural community, which means, generally speaking, one third of the American people. They aim to make the farmer more efficient and so to increase his annual income. That public school teachers may aid in bringing about such a far-reaching result as this, may be a new idea to some who read this circular, but it is quite true. Look, for example, at what the MacDonald school gardens have done for the province of Ontario, Canada. Professor B. M. Davis says: "The Canadian children undertook to improve the seed of wheat and oats and in three years the gain (in production) was 27 per cent for wheat and 28 percent for oats. It is not exaggeration to say the children forced their fathers to begin systematic effort to improve their seed." The lively interest of federal and state authorities in this phase of agricultural education is evidenced by recent publications. The general con- pany, in counties Reforestation hot session for erside Water on Thursday Bernardino out of the mans to the without from further verside Water on Thursday Bernardino their rights both Orange side Water on Thursday Bernardino their supply. The San Bernardino were Hearl Bear Valley; E. J. Youngtary of the George M. C. and Kenneth "If I sign that I would from San Bernardino Mr. Garson The atmosphere fore the meadow county with An effort to secrecy gates means ter fight ma maintain its waters of the President Bernardino join with the pany in sund Colton and from pump but the inv- ANAHEIM GAZETTE gardens? upon to have done, whole and have material- interests before some and some reported to development later; after their rest of the before children the sci- occupation, think for their call taught about other learning total occu- the earth.” ten of an the hism their status not to be. There that more and more learning gardens that ar educators dens; taking some what may pool child- sensus of opinion of these and other writers is that some sort of a begin- in agricultural instruction should be made in every rural school. The use of a text in grammar grades as compelled by law in certain states may be the surest way to begin. But the introduction of good garden work in connection with nature-study in the primary grades as a foundation and the emphasis of home and school experimental gardening for the older pupils along with their school room study of agriculture has been found to give infinitely richer results. What Teachers Have Done Some California teachers, who conduct garden work in their schools, have replied to inquiries made by the experiment station and all, from whom reports have been received, speak favorably of the value of the school garden. Portions of a letter from Miss Zilda M. Rogers, a teacher in Ventura, are given below: “Our garden work is yet very young This is really the first year it has been carried on systematically at all. Our grounds are very small, far too small, for so many children, but small as they are the work has paid ten-fold for every hour spent upon it. Last fall we raised a crop of vegetables and have replanted as the vegetables have been removed since. Our fall crop was only fair. This spring the vegetables are choice. I have allowed the children to plant whatever they wished providing the plants were not too large for the space allowed. Some of the pupils have harvested six or seven crops of radishes and lettuce this school year. Around the border of the garden we have vines planted. In another year there will be no ugly fence showing. With the exception of a boy and a girl the children will gladly leave their play to work in ‘our garden.’ Some of them devote every recess PROBLEMS IN GAS TESTS STUDIES IN ECONOMIC USE OF FUELS Reducing Possible Error to a Minimum and Determining Differences of Temperature Under Various Conditions — Chemical Reactions As part of its investigations of methods for increasing the efficiency of fuel resources, the United States geological survey is studying the general problems involved in the economic use of fuels in gas producers. Among many incidental problems of prime importance that have arisen in the course of this study are those of determining, under practically constant conditions, the duration of gas-producer tests necessary to reduce the possible error to a minimum and of determining the differences of temperature in the fuel bed of the gas producer and the influence of such differences on the chemical reactions taking place within the producer. In attempts to improve the gas producer considerable attention has been given by manufacturers to such problems as those of fixing or isolating the combustible components of the tar, utilizing the waste heat of the producer for the generation of the steam required by the plant, and applying the suction principle to bituminous coal and other tarry fuels. Little study, apparently, has been given to the physical and chemical conditions most suitable to the formation of hydrogen and of carbon monoxide, with a view to regulating the percentages of these gases in generators using fuels other than anthracite coal or charcoal. Reports on the two problems first stated above are given in Survey NOVEMBER Home May be bought that date. Buy own an interest Co-Operative This Company is the most desirable several houses and office application Our list of Stock 100 before Nov Our Stockhold UP-VALLEY WATER FIGHT San Bernardino Withdraws from Conservation Association The Water Conservation Association, organized by President Francis Cuttle of the Riverside Water company, in connection with the Tri-counties Reforestation Association, held a hot session in the office of the Riverside Water company at Riverside on Thursday. It ended in the San Bernardino county members walking out of the meeting, as a preliminary to the withdrawal of that county from further participation in the Riverside Water company's plans in the San Bernardino artesian belt. The split came when it was desired that the San Bernardino members steam required by the plant, and applying the suction principle to bituminous coal and other tarry fuels. Little study, apparently, has been given to the physical and chemical conditions most suitable to the formation of hydrogen and of carbon monoxide, with a view to regulating the percentages of these gases in generators using fuels other than anthracite coal or charcoal. Reports on the two problems first stated above are given in Survey Bulletin 933, which can be obtained free of charge by applying to the director of the survey at Washington. The bulletin consists of two papers, one, by R. H. Fernald and C. D. Smith, on the factors affecting the proper length of tests, the other, by J. K. Clement and H. A. Grine, on temperature differences in the fuel bed. Messrs. Fernald and Smith, summarizing the results of their experiments, state— "That throughout a test the fuel bed should be maintained in uniform condition, with regard to both the character of the fire and the thickness of the bed." "That failing in this, special care should be exercised to see that the fuel bed is in the same condition and of the same thickness at the close of a complete test, or end of a test period, as at the beginning. "That a test should never be started when the producer has been standing idle for some time with banked fires, as the fuel bed will not be in the average condition under which it will be required to work during the test. "That if, as the appointed hour for closing the test approaches, the fuel bed is not in the proper condition, the time of closing the test should be postponed until the bed naturally assumes the proper thickness and character. No forcing of conditions should be allowed simply to bring the test to an end at a previously determined hour." Messrs. Clement and Grine report that— "Temperature observations were made and gas samples taken in different parts of the fuel bed of the gas producers. The temperature was found to be highest at the bottom of the fuel bed and to decrease from this point to the top of the bed. "The temperature of the inner region of the fuel bed was found to be 300 deg. or 400 deg. lower than bills relating to education were introduced but most of them failed. The School Law, in a new, attractive cover, with an original design, issued in a large edition of 20,000 copies so that school officers through out the state may be supplied. Is distributed through the county perintendents, each of whom receive copies enough for each school class in his county, with a few extra good measure. The new high school law, known as the Thompson law, begins page 80. This is a great advance high school legislation and has traced wide attention throughout United States." efforts of institutions have been made to improve the community, making one more efficient annual school teachers. They also increased their possibilities to be real estate ultimate. The full community, making one more efficient annual school teachers, may be a read this circloLook, for MacDonald For the professor Canadian improve the land in three sections) was 28 percent generation to their fathers' effort to implement and phase of agreed by general company, in connection with the Tri-counties Reforestation Association, held a hot session in the office of the Riverside Water company at Riverside on Thursday. It ended in the San Bernardino county members walking out of the meeting, as a preliminary to the withdrawal of that county from further participation in the Riverside Water company's plans in the San Bernardino artesian belt. The split came when it was desired that the San Bernardino members sign an agreement that during times of scarcity no water shall be taken from the Santa Ana river until the flow reached Olive bridge in Orange county. This is interpreted by the San Bernardino interests as denying their rights to use this water until both Orange county and the Riverside Water company have received their supply. The San Bernardino county members were H. H. Garstin, president of the Bear Valley Mutual water company; E. J. Yoakum of Highland, secretary of the conservation association; George M. Cooley of San Bernardino, and Kennath McRae of Rialto. "If I signed such an agreement as that I would have to move away from San Bernardino county," declared Mr. Garstin, indignantly. The atmosphere became electric before the members of San Bernardino county withdrew. An effort was made to pledge them to secrecy. The bolting of the delegates means that there is to be a bitter fight made by San Bernardino to maintain its rights to control the waters of the upper basin. Recently President Cuttle tried to get the San Bernardino water commissioners to join with the Riverside Water company in suits to enjoin Rialto, East Colton and Highland corporations from pumping water from the basin, but the invitation was declined. Messrs. Clement and Grine report that— "Temperature observations were made and gas samples taken in different parts of the fuel bed of the gas producers. The temperature was found to be highest at the bottom of the fuel bed and to decrease from this point to the top of the bed. "The temperature of the inner region of the fuel bed was found to be 300 deg. or 400 deg. lower than that of the outer layers. A corresponding inferiority in the quality of the gas in the center of the producer could not be established; probably on account of the defective method of sampling. "It has been suggested that by an improvement in the method of admitting the draft to the fuel bed a more uniform distribution of temperature, and consequently a gain in the capacity of the producer and in the quality of the gas, might be obtained." "Reference has been made to recent experiments by one of the authors which have established 1300 deg. C. as the lower limit of temperature for the formation of a gas rich in CO." NEW SCHOOL LAWS State Superintendent Issues Volume Containing New Enactments State School Superintendent Hyatt has our thanks for a copy of a newly issued volume giving the school laws of California, including the new enactments passed by the last legislature. A note from Mr. Hyatt contains the following references to the volume: About fifty changes and additions to the school law were made by the last legislature, more than at any time within recent years. About 150 copies so that school officers throughout the state may be supplied. is distributed through the county perintendents, each of whom receive copies enough for each school clear in his county, with a few extra good measure. The new high school law, known as the Thompson law, begins page 80. This is a great advance in high school legislation and has attracted wide attention throughout United States. The new law authorizing the supervision of health and development of school children is on page 49. It is regarded as one of the advanced and hopeful laws of the present time. Three cities of the state already have taken advantage of it—Bernley, Los Angeles, Oakland. The famous anti-fraternity law which also has attracted wide comment, is on page 50. Trustees are authorized to provide transportation of pupils according to the law on page 98. Commission trustees are similarly authorized (limited to 15 cents per day pupil) on page 46. The new law making it a misder nor for any principal, teacher or school officer to cause any child purchase any supplementary books will be found on page 189. The act establishing a new normal school at Santa Barbara is found on page 163. The provision for the California trade school is page 165. CEMENT PIPE Building Stone, Fence Posts W. A. HUNTER FULLERTON Phoneme for all information. Prices and all work guaranteed. NOVEMBER 6 IS THE LAST DAY STOCK IN THE Home Investment Co. May be bought at par, as it will advance 50 cents a share on that date. Buy now and get the benefit of this advance, and own an interest in The Only Operative Building Comp'ny In Orange County This Company now owns free of any incumbrance one of the most desirable residence tracts in Anaheim, on which several houses are now being built. We have on file in our office applications for 26 houses in Anaheim and Fullerton. 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