The Sunday Oregonian., June 29, 1913, SECTION THREE, Page 8, Image 42

THIS ttUMJAtf OKJblttOMAJN, POKTLAND, JUE 29, 1913.
CHILDREN OF WOQDLAWN SCHOOL TAKE TO GARDENING
Pupils Seem to Be Agreed That There Is No Place More Fitting to Bring Home and School in Close Relation.
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BY KATE DOUGLAS WIGQIN.
Happy hearts and happy faces,
Happy days In grassy places.
That was how In ancient ages
Children Brew to kings and sages.
Robert Louis Stevenson,
(HEN the doors of Woodlawn
School closed last Thursday for
the Summer vacation. It was
agreed that the most successful work
In the history of that school had been
done by the pupils, and every one of
the more than 1000 visitors who at
tended Its reception, went away with
the assurance that a new era In the
life of the child was awakening.
As early as 7 A. M. wagons, wheel
barrows, carts and bicycles were seen
coming? toward the garden, where the
principal and janitor had prepared
benches for the various pets, extending
along the east side of the garden.-One
need only to go back to his or her own
childhood to interpret the expression of
exultation revealed on the face of each
child as the pets were being num
bered and placed In entry.
Among the poultry entries were
White Leghorns, Plymouth Rocks,
Bantams, ducks, pheasants and pigeons.
There were rabbits, chipmunks, guinea
pigs, dogs, cats, calves, cows and
ponies. There was great pride and re
joicing when later some of the pets
were decorated with a card "First
Prize," "Second Prize," "Third. Prize"
or "Honorable Mention."
Children Much Interested.
There seems to be no place more fit.
ting to bring home and school In close
relation than the garden In which every
boy and girl has been Intensely Inter
ested from the moment It was an
nounced in assembly that there was
no doubt about securing the land for
this year's garden, where they might
prove the work of last year, which was
so lavoraoiy recognizee even as a
winner of a National prize for the best
garden of less' than three years'
growth, could not only be as good but
greatly Improved 'with the experience
and knowledge gained through last
year's efforts.
It was gratifying to the parents and
teachers to see groups of visitors be
ing ushered through the garden by the
pupils, each interested in that special
part of the garden which he or his
"room" had taken the responsibility to
make a success.
The first plan of the garden was to
give each teacher a section where
every child in her room might have
an Individual garden and when that
was carefully prepared and planted,
they were permitted to plan an expert,
ment section for general information
or decoration. s
The graduating class of the ninth
grade was given first choice and se
lected the center plot surrounding the
fountain, where they planted cannas
and gladiolas, bordered by colens, alys.
sum and lobelia.
Their experiment garden of fertilizers
was a means of showing prospective
gardeners the results of lime, potash,
nitrate, phosphate and absence of fer
tilizers on the growth of plants with
the same care and condition of the soil.
proving which were best for root, leaf
or stalk growth.
One. of the strongest proofs of the
teacher s true spirit was shown in re
suits of the eighth grade. When the
pupils remarked that their section was
judged as the best section last year the
teacher frankly remarked that she had
"never had a garden and knew little
about gardening," but not being
thwarted, teacher and pupils went to
work with a real school spirit of "help
and be helped." with the result that
their section was shown with pride as
the best section in general uniformity
and correctness of planting.
Their variety garden was a center of
interest and many persons were taught
to recognize plants by their appearance
ana growth.
1, KKCTION OI"' WOODLAWN GARD EX AND PtTPILS WHO WORKED tPOS IT 2, TEACHERS AND JUDGES,
PRIZES CCPS; S, ArGVST KRX'EGK R WITH HOLSTE1X JERSEY COW AND CALF 4, EARL C. KRUBCEB AND
TRIXIEl S, MISS CAMPLING SHO WING POINTS OF MERIT ON PUL LETS TO SCHOLARS! 6, INDUSTRIAL)
GARDENS, MISS JOYCE, SLPERVI9 OH 7, CHILDREN WITH PETS, ROW OP EXHIBITS IN BACKGROUND.
the old-fashioned flower garden, and
enlisted the co-operatlcn of some of
the older friends who enjoy a bed of
an assortment now rarely seen yet
dearly loved by all who have memories
of the flowers "mother liked."
Another class of seventh grade
planted the west side of the garden
with cosmos. 172 different kinds of
dahlias, Shirley poppies and pinks.
The eighth grade, realizing that the
most difficult work would be the pre
paring of the unfinished section of lust
year, proved a gallant spirit in mak
ing it an excellent section and also
planting sweet peeas to cover the fence
of the north side.
The sixth grade designed a plan for
dowers, and each opening bud was
eagerly watched and appreciated.
The fifth grade prepared the soil and
cared for the industrial garden, and
many parents wye besieged with the
question, "Can you think of any other
plant which provides food for animals
and food and clothing for man, its care
or manufacturing of leading indus
tries?" Among the many varieties were
peanuts, cotton, flax, hemp, artichokes,
12 kinds of corn. Soy beans from Man
churia, celery. lentils, grasses and
grains.
Brant Palls on Teacher.
As the most difficult part of school
gardening falls upon the teachers of
the primary grades where the children
cannot determine Just how many seeds
to plant, how many plants to thin, or
are not large enough to use a spade,
and everything must be done under
close supervision, the teachers could
not plan experiment gardens, but were
just as willing and eager for special
work as those of higher grades.
Even the second and third grades
were an exception to this, as they
planted and cared for the special dahlia
garden of 72 choice dahlias, donated
by an interested friend. This garden
promises an abundance of bloom to re
pay the little folks when they return
In September.
Mr. Newblll has been quoted as say
ing that the highest good of the school
garden can only be obtained when prin-
all working in harmony, voluntarily, ttnue being happy, with increased de
The sixth and seventh grades chose
plans' for flowers. One room planted cipal, teachers, parents and janitor are
for the good of the child,
It was noticed by the visitors that
the desire to excel was not as an in
dividual, but a loyalty to their school,
that everyone seemed of the same de
sire to see Woodlawn School continue
in the lead of this grand movement,
where the child is taught that there
Is dignity ih labor worth while.
The teachers, on coming In direct
contact with the real nature of the
child, have been given a wonderful op
portunity for character building and
have proven that the children s gar
dens give an Interest In plant life, by
Its health-giving outdoor work, pro
motes physical and mental develop
ment, and in profitable occupation of
Idle moments provdes fresh vegetables
for the family table, and in many
cities has given an increase to the
child s saving account the proceeds of
sales of surplus vegetables.
It encourages Increased self-resnect
through thoughtful and careful work,
arouses an ambition to succeed in
business, with a desire to make ugly
places attractive and unprofitable
places profitable; establishes discipline
in working at a self-appointed task In
a belief that success must be earned
by some hard work.
Help Is Appreciated.
Many words might be said in praise
of the local committee which has sup
ported the work; also of the many in
terested friends who contributed
money, tools, lumber, seeds, etc. If
they visited the garden and saw the
busy, happy children, they would not
only think it is money well invested,
but would rejoice with Woodlawn, that
the Portland garden contest has so
successfully persuaded 26 of Portland's
schools to join in this work, 'which is
an International movement, and hope
to see every school In inis city, or
State of Oregon, enjoying the work
during the coming year.
The final awards for the "pet show"
were made at the end of the day, and
the boys and girls would enjoy seeing
the awards published, but, as there are
a great many, will ask that they con-
votion to each and every pet.
But the garden and the pet show
were not all the things on exhibition,
for inside the school building wera
tables of dressed dollies, awards being
given for best dolly or family of dolls
dressed by the little mother.
On the walls were fine specimens of
drawings; also a table for manual arts
exhibit. The sewing department
showed many garments made by eighth
and ninth-grade pupils.
Mannal Training; Revelation.
The manual training department was
a revelation to the parents to see the
tables, chairs, music racks, magazine
cabinets, porch swings and various
other useful articles, not including the
name plates, which were made and
lettered for each teacher s section, each
pupils garden and the experimental
gardens; also the work of making the
new fence which inclosed the garden.
At the close of the reception a new
stimulus was added wner. two "largo
loads" of Portsmouth rupils gave their
garden yell on their arrival to visit
their companion prize garden.
With, such marvelous results from
the efforts in this work, and when the
appeal comes for workers in the new
school year, may each and every on
remember:
"If we do not give children their
childhood. It is very sure that we shall
find men lacking in manhood."
Banks to Close Three Days,
CHKHALIS, Wash.. June 28. (Spe
cial.) Lewis County banks will not
only close on July 4, but have also
agreed to close July 5. which, with the
Sunday following. . will make a threa
days' cessation from business. An an
nouncement to this effect was made
by Coffman. Dobson & Co., bankers. Se
curity State Bank and the Chehalls
National Bank of this city; United
States National Bank. Union Loan &
Trust -Company. Field & Lease, bankers.
Farmers & Merchants' Bank of Cen
tralia; State Bank of Winlotk; Toledo
State Bank.