March, 1925] THE VIRGINIA TEACHER

much as we would have done under the SHOULD THE BLUE RIDGE same circumstances. MOUNTAINS BE MADE We teachers of geography know that the A NATIONAL PARK names of capes and mountains will fade from the student's mind, that many of the A SOCIAL SCIENCE PROBLEM FOR THE JUNIOR rivers and capitals will melt into an indis- HIGH SCHOOL tinct haze—that many, perhaps most of the facts will be gone from our students when, TRAINING for citizenship is the gen- eral aim of the social studies which at thirty-five or fifty-five years of age they turn their minds into the resistless sea of have become the backbone of the cur- riculum as a result of the nation-wide sur- public opinion and their votes into the bal- lot box that decides some world crisis. We, vey by Dr. Edgar Dawson and individual the teachers of geography, should realize investigators. Such abilities, inclinations, and ideals as will enable the youth to take that the frequently recurring opportunities his place in a rapidly changing society must of the geography class means this—that to us more than to all other social agencies be developed. He must be trained to at- tack a problem, investigate and organize combined, is given the power to decide whether the future act of the voter shall be evidence, and to withhold judgment until all an act of respect or disrespect, of sympathy evidence is collected; he should be able to or antagonism, of understanding or ignor- trace the effects of past events upon social living today; he should realize the growing ant prejudice—whether war shall wreck us all or whether we shall put it into the limbo interdependence of all countries; he should understand major contemporary problems where now the personal duel resides— 1 buried by a better method. Now that a bet- and his part in solving them. ter way is established the gentleman finds A heavy responsibility rests upon the that he can get along perfectly well without teacher to choose such problems as will carry out this aim. After choosing the puncturing his fellowman with a rapier or a bullet. problem she must find a means to arouse interest in it. A good scheme for doing this This opportunity of the geography teach- er is made even greater than it seems by the is to make a local problem the point of con- fact that most adult activities are bent to- tact. As an example of this I shall con- ward the realization of desires conceived sider the problem of conservation. Experts before the age of fifteen years. tell us that our coal supply may not last one hundred years, that our oil may not last J. Russell Smith fifty years, and that a million square miles of timber have been cut down and not re- A university residence hall is neither a placed. This is a problem of national in- rabbit warren, a barracks, nor a boarding- terest that should be given careful study. house. It is a center of college and univer- In looking for a local approach to this sity life and influence, where no inconsider- problem the teacher will find that the news- able part of the student's education is to be papers are a great aid. Virginia news- gained by contact with fellow-students and papers are now featuring the fight waged in where he contributes to and shares in that Congress to put a national park in the Blue college life and college spirit which, how- Ridge Mountain. The valley people are en- ever elusive and difficult to define, are thusiastic over it; the mountain people want powerful factors in fashioning the mind and to retain their homes. But other sections, character of the American college student 1. Report of Committee on social studies in the —Nicholas Murray Butler junior high school. 76 THE VIRGINIA TEACHER [Vol. 6, No. 3

as Smoky Mountain in Tennessee, want the land. Should the Blue Ridge Mountain be park. The fact that former Secretary of made a national forest, a national park, or Agriculture Wallace once recommended left as it is ? that the Smoky Mountain section be made a national forest enlarges the problem to a I. A comparison of our national forests consideration of both parks and forests. with the Blue Ridge area will deter- Where shall this problem be placed in the mine whether this section is adapted school? The new course of study for the for use as a national forest junior high schools of Virginia has not yet A. Study of the Shenandoah National been completed and there is so much va- Forest brings out these facts about riation in existing courses of study that it national forests. is hard to place this problem. Many lead- 1. The Shenandoah National Forest in- ing educators point to the ninth grade, or cludes the Massanutten Mountain in the last year of the junior high school, as Virginia, the North Mountain and the the most suitable. Harold Rugg, Earle Shenandoah Mountain in Virginia and Ruggj and Emma Schweppe devote one West Virginia. pamphlet for the ninth grade of their "So- 2. This land was made into a national for- cial Science Pamphlets" (as worked out in est for these purposes :2 Columbia University) to this problem. Mr. a. To prevent flood damage and ob- R. W. Hatch, instructor in citizenship in struction of navigation along the the Horace Mann School, and Dr. Daniel great rivers which head in the C. Knowlton of Teachers College, Colum- southern Appalachians. bia University, provide the following plan b. To permit the conservative develop- for the ninth grade: ment of water power resources. History: A survey of modern world re- c. To encourage municipal water de- lationships. velopment. Geography: A world survey; expanding d. To permanently support an import- commercial interests. ant share of our national forests Civics : Elementary social, political, and products industries. economic problems. e. To serve as an object lesson where Courses of study for city schools, as Nor- private owners may see and ap- folk, provide for social problems of this praise the results of applied fores- type in the ninth grade. The teacher has tiy. the privilege of using it where she thinks f. To serve as a mountain vacation best, but, in all probability, the new course land for the massed populations of of study will provide a place for such prob- the east and south. lems in the ninth grade. g. To protect and develop scenic and PROBLEM aesthetic values. Secretary of the Interior Weeks has rec- h. To protect game and fish. ommended to Congress that the Blue Ridge i. To take care of small industries de- Mountain or the Smoky Mountain be made pendent on the forest. a national park; former Secretary of Agri- 3. The government secured this land un- culture Wallace recommended at one time der Weeks Law, March, 1911. It was that Smoky Mountain be made a national /Letter from Secretary Wallace to the Bureau forest. The cattlemen living in the section of the Budget, pursuant to circular No. 49 of that protest against the government's taking the bureau, and returned to the Department of Agri- culture under date of May 2, 1924. March, 1925] THE VIRGINIA TEACHER 77

bought from private owners at an av- and Waynesboro on the south. It lies erage cost of $3 an acre. Total cost in the following counties: Warren, was $410,000. (Other national forests Fauquier, Rappahannock, Page, Madi- were made from public domain.) son, Greene, Rockingham, Augusta, 4. The forest is handled in the following and Albemarle. It is about one hun- manner :3 dred miles in length and averages nine a. It is under the administration of the miles in width. Department of Agriculture. 2. All the reasons for the establishment b. Forest officers get their position of the Shenandoah National Forest ap- through a civil service examination ply to this section. and promotion in rank. II. A comparison of our national parks c. A forest supervisor, a man of ex- with this Blue Ridge area will de- perience in woods work, road and termine whether this section is adapt- trail building, the stock business, ed for use as a national park. and in all kinds of work carried on A. Our national parks were created to in the forest, plans work in his for- preserve certain unusual features.4 est under the supervision of the dis- 1. Yellowstone (northwest Wyoming) — trict forester and supervises the ex- more geysers than in all the rest of the ecution of the plans. world together, boiling springs, mud d. A forest assistant carries out the volcanoes, petrified forests, grand can- work under the direction of the su- yon of the Yellowstone, large lakes, pervisor. After two years of satis- large streams and waterfalls, greatest factory service, he becomes a for- preserve of wild animals in the world, est examiner, who examines and and trout streams. maps areas, designates timber to be 2. Hot Springs (middle Arkansas) — cut in sales, surveys boundaries, and forty-five hot springs possessing cura- conducts nursery work and forest tive properties. planting. 3. Sequoia (middle eastern California) — e. The rangers carry out the routine several hundred sequoia trees over ten work of supervising timber sales, feet in diameter, some twenty-five to grazing, building roads, trails, thirty-six feet in diameter, towering bridges, telephone lines, etc. Only mountain ranges, mile-long cave. men who are physically sound, who have endurance, and who know how 4. Yosemite (middle eastern California) to pack supplies and find food for ■—-valley of world famed beauty, lofty themselves and horses are chosen. cliffs, waterfalls, three groves of big f. Fire wardens are stationed at look- trees, high Sierra, and waterwheel out posts to report fires. falls. B. The section of the Blue Ridge Moun-. 5. General Grant (middle eastern Cali- tain under discussion meets the fore- fornia)—General Grant tree, thirty- going standards for a national forest five feet in diameter. in the following ways: 6. Mount Ranier (west central Washing- 1. It is located in the Blue Ridge Moun- ton)—twenty-eight glaciers, forty- tains between Front Royal on the north eight square miles of glacier, fifty to 3How the Public Forests are Handled. (Sep- iRules and regulations of our national parks, 19 arate circular No. 847, from Yearbook of the U. booklets published by the Department of the In- S. Department of Agriculture, 1920.) terior, 1924. 78 THE VIRGINIA TEACHER [Vol. 6, No. 3 one hundred feet thick, and beautiful 18. Lafayette (Maine coast)—the group sub-alpine flowers. of granite mountains upon Mount Des- 7. Crater Lake (southwestern Oregon) — ert Island. lake of extraordinary blue in crater of 19. Zion (southwestern Utah)—magnifi- extinct volcano with sides a thousand cent gorge, depth from eight hundred feet high and interesting lava forma- to two thousand feet, precipitous walls. tions. B. The following facts make it desirable 8. Wind Cave (South Dakota)—cavern for the Blue Ridge tract to be made having many miles of galleries and pe- into a national park.5 culiar formations. 1. These special features would attract 9. Platt (southern Oklahoma)—many the tourist. sulphur and other springs possessing a. Numerous mountain peaks over medicinal value. four thousand feet high. 10. Sullys Hill (North Dakota)—wood, b. White Oak Canyon—a stream of streams, lake, important wild animal water running through one district preserve. with magnificent beauty. 11. Mesa Verde (southwestern Colorado) c. Kettle Canyon—Raven Rock Cliffs. —most noted and best preserved cliff d. Dry Run Canyon—two beautiful dwellings in the U. S., if not in the waterfalls. world. e. Hughes River. 12. Glacier (northwestern Montana) — f. Nigger Run—three miles of fine rugged mountain region of Alpine falls and cataracts. character, two hundred fifty glacier- g. Many nameless canyons and gorges fed lakes, sixty small glaciers, and —a thousand miles of trout precipices thousands of feet deep, streams. 13. Rocky Mountain (north middle Colo- h. Many varieties of hard timber that rado)—heart of the Rockies, snowy have never been touched with the ranges, high peaks, and records of the axe. glacier period. i. A swamp of rhododendrons over a 14. Hawaii—three separate areas—Kilauae mile in length and hemlock trees and Mauna Loa on Hawaii and Halea- one hundred twenty-five feet in kea on Maui. height along the head waters of the 15. Lassen Volcanic (northern California) Rapidan. —only active volcano in the U. S. j. Many waterfalls—around Skyland, proper, Lassen peak—10,465 feet, Cin- Hawksbill Fall, Fort Hollow Falls, der Cone, Hot Springs, and mud gey- Deep Falls, sers. k. Weyers Cave, Luray Caverns, End- 16. Mt. McKinley (south central Alaska) less Caverns, Shenandoah Caverns, —highest mountain in North America, Massanutten Caverns are within rises higher above the surrounding close range of the Blue Ridge sec- country than any other mountain in the tion. world. 1. Shenandoah and Massanutten Na- 17. Grand Canyon (north central Arizona) tional Forest Reserves are located —the greatest example of erosion and near the proposed site. the most sublime spectacle in the 5"A National Park near the Nation's Capital"— world. Northern Virginia Park Association, Skyland, Virginia. ' March, 1925] THE VIRGINIA TEACHER 79

m. A scenic railroad could be built tate values, and decided benefit to along the backbone of the mountain trade. giving extensive views of the valley b. More and better hotels would open. —three thousand feet below, c. Outside capital invested and spent n. The park would command a view in the state would lower the taxes. of hallowed ground of immortal d. Virginia would become renowned Americans; Washington, Monroe, as the playground of the nation. Madison, Jefferson, Wilson, Lewis, e. The federal government would ex- and Clark lived within a few miles pend large sums in the development of the section. of the area. 2. The following public advantages would HI. These objections to a national forest attend the location of a national park or a national park may influence the in this section: government to leave the land as it is. a. It would preserve a virgin forest A. There are these objections to a na- area and a permanent bird and tional park: game refuge. 1. If the state bought the land, it would b. It would insure a water supply to mean an increase of taxes all over the districts eastward. state. c. It would be the only park within a 2. Twenty-two cattlemen protest at the few hours' and a few dollars' jour- government's taking the land, for it ney of thirty-five million people in would deprive them of land needed in our eastern cities. their livestock industry. d. It is only three hours' ride from the 3. It would throw out of their homes a nation's capital. thrifty class of people who are not e. Two great highways, the Lee High- fitted to settle anywhere else. way, from Washington to Califor- 4. Compensation by the government nia, and the Spottswood Trail, from would not amount to half what the the Shenandoah Valley to Rich- land is worth to the present owners. mond, pass through it. 5. Control of the park with two highways f. Four great railroads, the Chesa- running through it would be difficult. peake and Ohio at the south, the B. There are these objections to a na- Baltimore and Ohio and the South- tional forest: ern at the north, and the Norfolk and Western at the west, make it 1. The Department of Agriculture pays accessible. only a small sum for land for national forests, and this land is very expensive. 3. It would increase the prosperity of Vir- ginia. 2. National forests consist of land fitted only for raising timber, and this is val- a. Great numbers of tourists visiting uable grazing land. the territory would tend to encour- age better roads, double-track rail- IV. Conclusion: roads, the opening up of new terri- The Blue Ridge area is too valuable tory, increased consumption and and contains too much grazing land demand for the products of farm to he made into a national forest. and factory, orchard, dairy, and But it is fitted to become a national breeding stable; greater demand for park because: labor, steady increase in real es- 1. The natural features are unusual. 80 THE VIRGINIA TEACHER [Vol. 6, No. 3 2. The government having decided to Report of the Forester, October 4, place a national park in the east, south 1923. of the Pennsylvania boundary line, this site will be convenient to the largest Maps: number of people. Shenandoah National Forest, 1920. 3. Tourists with their money will flock to National Forests, State Forests, Na- the valley to compensate for any in- tional Monuments and Indian Reserva- crease of taxes, and tions, 1924. 4. The industrious habits of the people Forest Regions of the U. S., 1924. who are thrown out of their homes Traveling exhibits of commercially im- will fit them to supply the shortage of portant woods of the United States with farmers in the valley. related data. Films, loaned free of charge, except The above outline is merely a suggestion for transportation both ways, illustrating of what the teacher's outline may be in pre- all phases of forestry. paring such a problem. The pupils may de- Department of the Interior; velop it quite differently and should be en- Nineteen booklets presenting the rules couraged to follow up their own ideas. If and regulations of the different parks the teacher has the material well organized 1924. in her own mind, it will be easy to guide the ideas presented by the class. Council on National Parks, Forests, and This problem offers abundant opportunity Wild Life, 233 Broadway, N. Y.: for the pupil to do the major part of the A Policy for National and State Parks, work. Maps illustrating parks and forests Forests, and Game Refuges. must be selected, a map of the section of the Clara F. Lambert Blue Ridge Mountain could be colored, clippings should be posted on the bulletin board, a committee may visit the forest of- THE KNIGHTS OF THE ficers, reports may be made on the parks, GOLDEN HORSESHOE and letters must be written to all sources of information to get the desired material. A HISTORY-GEOGRAPHY UNIT FOR THE The following material is necessary: FOURTH GRADE Department of Agriculture: [The new course of study for Virginia's ele- No. 211—Government Forest Work mentary schools encourages the teacher's use of April, 1922. ,?..uPlts- But such teaching presupposes either ^ organization or ready-made units. The Forests and Forestry in the V. S. 1 en a r profits 034 in unit,i n theo, classroom? teacher "l is generallyorganizing so a busynew Report for distribution at the Brazil Cen- that she is eager for help in the way of already- tennial Exposition, 1922-23. collected materials. For that reason The Vir- ginia Teacher expects to publish a series of big Putting Wood Waste to Work—irom plans worked up by students teaching in the Yearbook, 1920. Training School at Harrisonburg.] A Primer of Forestry I. What the children will do. No. 173—Part I. The Forest—Re- A. They will read stories -and facts about print of February 8, 1911. Spottswood in: No. 348—Part II. Practical Fores- 1. Cooke, Stories of the Old Dominion try—Mzy 13, 1909. pp. 82-93. No. 886—Timber: Mine or Crop from Yearbook, 1922. 2 132giI1' Hist0ry Vir9inia' PP- 125-