Specimen Programs. Song - *" SPECIMEN PROGRAM. Selections marked thus are given in this volume. See Index. Reading of the Governor's Proclamation by the clerk of the district. Essay Historic Willows." (Suggestions: 'Arnold's Willow," opposite West Point; "Gates' Willow," New York City; "Alex. Pope's Willow," Twickenham.) Essay - "Historic Oaks." (Suggestions: "The Big Tree" at Geneseo, N. Y.; "The Charter Oak," at Hartford, Connecticut.). Song" Come to the Greenwood." Recitation The Tree." Jones Very. Essay "Liberty Elms." (Suggestions: " Old Liberty Elm," Boston; ton Elm," Cambridge; "Penn's Elm," Philadelphia.) Essay " 'My Favorite Tree is the Elm." Discussion upon this essay by four others, presenting their favorites in the Oak, Sycamore, Beech, and Poplar. Address"The School-house a Home, and Our Duty to Beautify It." By the teacher or one of the parents. Song" America." From Western School Journal. 22 SPECIMEN PROGRAM. ARSENAL STREET SCHOOL, WATERTOWN, N. Y., 1889. Selections marked thus * given in this volume. See Index. SPECIMEN PROGRAM. MOHAWK ACADEMY, 1889. * Selections marked thus given in this volume. See Index. Music "America." The School. 339 Reading of Scripture. Prayer. Reading of Law establishing Arbor Day. Reading of Circular Issued by Department of Public Instruction. 46 Declamation - The Origin and History of Arbor Day." -"Trees, the Homes of Birds Recitation Essay "Trees, an Encouragement to Rain Fall." EssayProtection afforded by Trees." The School. The School. 'Loud through the air resounds the woodman's stroke, Spare, spare my life! a trembling virgin spare ! Oh, listen to the Hamadryad's prayer! No longer let that fearful axe resound; Preserve the tree to which my life is bound. See, from the bark my blood in torrents flows; I faint, I sink, I perish from your blows. Apollonius Rhodius. V. Music "Swinging 'Neath the Old Apple Tree." VI. Essay" Woodman, Spare that Tree." VII. Recitation See Index. Scholars from 2d Grade. Scholars of 5th and 6th Grades. *Woodman, Spare that Tree." Scholars from 1st Grade. Scholars of 3rd and 4th Grades. Dedication of trees to the following: H. W. Longfellow, O. W. Holmes, J. G. Whittier, Washington Irving, Alice and Phœbe Cary, B. J. Lossing. PART THIRD. 1. Dialogue - "Facts from Home and Abroad." - Uncle Sam, The forty-two States and Territories, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Palestine, China, and the American Indian. 2. Remarks by visitors. 3. Voting for State Tree. 4. Song. 5. Benediction. The Legislature of 1888 enacted the following law, approved by the Governor April 30, 1888: "An Act to Encourage Arboriculture," Chapter 166. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: SECTION 1. The Friday following the first day of May in each year shall hereafter be known throughout this State as Arbor Day. § 2. It shall be the duty of the authorities of every public school in this State, to assemble the scholars in their charge on that day in the school building, or elsewhere, as they may deem proper, and to provide for and conduct, under the general supervision of the City Superintendent or the School Commissioner, or other chief officers having the general oversight of the public schools in each city or district, such exercises as shall tend to encourage the planting, protection and preservation of trees and shrubs, and an acquaintance with the best methods to be adopted to accomplish such results. $3. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall have power to prescribe from time to time, in writing, a course of exercises and instruction in the subjects hereinbefore mentioned, which shall be adopted and observed by the public school authorities on Arbor Day, and upon receipt of copies of such course, sufficient in number to supply all the schools under their supervision, the School Commissioner or City Superintendent aforesaid shall promptly provide each of the schools under his or their charge with a copy, and cause it to be adopted and observed. The first general observance of Arbor Day in this State, under this act, will be on Friday, May 3, 1889 and the duty is imposed upon the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to prescribe a course of exercises to be observed in the schools of the State in carrying out the spirit of the law. A program will be published not later than April 15, next, giving somewhat in detail a general plan for the information and guidance of those contemplating a formal observance of the day by literary exercises or otherwise. This program will give simple directions in reference to the transplanting of trees, and will also give such information as may be obtained, touching the kind of trees most suitable for transplanting, care and treatment of trees, etc. Preliminary to the publication of such program, the Superintendent invites suggestions from all who are specially interested in the subject, as to the proper arrangement of a course of exercises, what it should include, etc., to the end that the observance of the day may be an occasion of interest and benefit to all the people, and especially to the school children of the State. Pending any further announcement, the following observations and recommendations are submitted: The plain intent of the law is to encourage the planting, protection and preservation of trees and shrubs, with such other features as will tend to impress upon the minds of all the desirability of beautifying school grounds, and of doing something to overcome the destruction of trees made necessary by the demands of business and commerce. Something should be done to make more attractive and comfortable the many thousand school-grounds of the State which now lack a tree or shrub, either for use or ornament. The spirit of the law will be complied with, certainly, at first, by setting out trees about school grounds, dedicating them to distinguished scholars, educators, statesmen, generals, historians or poets, or to people or children closely identified with the schools. Where school-house grounds are already sufficiently protected and beautified, or where school-grounds are so limited as to leave no room for tree planting, trees may be planted along the approaches to school-grounds, or in any appropriate place to be selected by the school authorities. It is hoped that where school-grounds are too limited to admit trees, that the proper authorities may soon be induced to secure additional land. The planting of the trees may very properly be supplemented by literary exercises, out of doors when weather permits, and in the school-houses where out-door exercises are not advisable. These exercises |