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Show GH1II EXPERT HEBE TO STUD! SCHOOLS J. L. Randall, specialist of the United Unit-ed States Bureau of Education, visited visit-ed Ogden today and held a conference at the board of education officers with Superintendent John M. MIIIb and Mrs. P. W. Knlsely, chairman of the local Civic League. The conference was for the purpose of discussing ways and means for the furthering of the local school gardens movement fostered by the Civic League tor the benefit of the members of the League of Good Citizenship. Mr. Randall is returning east from San Francisco, where ho assisted Dr. P. P. Claxton, U. S. Commissioner of Education, and other educators. In making a survey of the public school system of that city. His work, as a member of the national bureau, is connected con-nected with the agricultural department depart-ment and he Is visiting a number of the larger cities In this part of the country, ho states, for the purpose of promulgating ideas worked out by the bureau to promote productive and educative avocations for the students of city schools, in or out of school hours. In speaking on this question this afternoon, Mr. Randall said the national na-tional bureau of education, following an exhaustive investigation as to what the students were doing in out of school hours, had reached the conclusion con-clusion that home gardening would bo one of the best avocations possible for a student to pursue in out of school hours. It was found, he said, that there were 13.000-.000 children of school ago in the United States. Of these, 9,750,000 are enrolled In schools, and with a daily attendance of 6,500,-000 6,500,-000 Their school life occupied 5 hours a day and 120 days a year, or one half of their waking hours daily and one-third of the days in the year. It was also found that 85 per cent of the enrolled children had no productive produc-tive occupation for their out of school hours or that they were following occupations not conducive to proper development. Continuing, the educator stated that to remedy tills condition, the National Bureau of Education was advocating the establishment of home gardens under the direction of a teacher, teach-er, experienced in theory' and practice, prac-tice, believing that it was the duty of the public schools to supervise the activities of students In the hours that might otherwise be wasted or put to Improper uses This teacher should be a permanent member of the teaching, teach-ing, force of every city school system. The home gardens are advocated as a means of giving the children an opportunity oppor-tunity to form habits of industry, to gain health In the out of doors and to obtain the joy of being a producer. Mr. Randall was pleased with the progress already being made in Ogden along the home garden line through the work of the Civic league and League of Good Citizenship. The local plan, he said, was very similar to that outlined by the national bureau of education and In order to give It permanency and on account of its educational value, he emphasized the suggestion to Supt. Mills that a special spe-cial teacher be employed to visit the homes and direct the agricultural activities ac-tivities of the children. |