ARBOR DAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2138, 22 July 1907, Page 4

ARBOR DAY.

Arbor Day is an annual fixture which the Minister of .Education is anxious to encourage in the Now Zealand schools. The Hawke’s Bay Education Board has addressed the following circular to school committees in its district: —“The Board desires that the day shall be kept in every school'district under its ■jurisdiction, and that teachers will endeavor to mako the ocof some importance in the history of the school. The day is specially appropriate for widening the bounds of Nature study in the direction of showing children the necessity of providing for their own future and for the needs of others. The planting of trees and shrubs anticipates a future, and the occasion ma.y easily be used to enforce the

virtue of foresight, and tho need of preparing beforehand for coming manhood and womanhood. Again, Arbor Day may be most usefully employed in the encouragement of social life. The gathering together of parents, members of committee, teachers, and children provides an excellent opportunity for consultation in matters bearing upon the welfare of a school. Assistance, pecuniary and otherwise, is readily forthcoming at such times, and the Board hopes that the opportunity will not be lost sight of, to encourage parents to send their children to school roguiarlv and to foster among them the spirit of earnest and diligent work.” “In a number of school districts, native shrubs and trees can readily be obtained from the bush, and it is suggested that wherever possible Arbor Day may be commemorated by planting in tho school grounds, in reserves or domains,' native shrubs and forest trees, for ornament in the one case and for utility in the other.

“The Forest Department, Wellington,. will supply certain kinds of trees free of charge, and as there may bo teachers unacquainted with the native and common names of some of the more important among the shrubs and trees found in the bush a short list is given below to assist in guiding teachers and committeemen in the selection of such shrubs and trees as they may think it advisable to plant. “The Board requests that every head teacher will send to the secretary. Education Office, an account showing how Arbor Day was kept, the number and kind of trees plantel, and such other information as will suffice to show what was done in the district to commemorate an event that is now recognised throughout the British Empire as one of great educational importance and value.” The circular was considered at Friday night’s meeting of the Gisborne School Committee. The head-

master (Mr. F. J. .Rowley) remarked in his report: “A long strip of ground along the south-west fence liai been left free from asphalt for the purpose of extending the present plantation to the front of the school grounds. I drew the atention of the Visiting Committee last month to

the necessity for preparing for planting, and the matter was discussed,at vour last meeting, but nothing lias since been done.” Air. Dalton moved that a sub-com-mittee be appointed to make necessnrv arrangements for celebrating Arbor Day. lie considered this an important thing ill school life, ft was a far more bonoficial holiday than many other holidays at present observed.

Air. Spence seconded tho motion, which met witli tho full approbation of those present. Tho diniqniui, Atossrs Barton and Spence wero appointed to form the sub-committee.