The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-30
PUBLIC PLAY GROUNDS
Results Of an Experiment by
the Philadelphia Board
Of Education.

OAC VI lc ulOSt Aup0k ailt PdPClS
which will be heard at the CongresA Of
Mothers. at Washington, will be present
ed by Miss Constance Mackenzie, Dlrec-
tor of Public K-indergartens in Philadel-
phia, on Fairgrounds in Cities" Miss
Mackenzie. says the Philadelphia
Times" has a close acquaintance with
this subject. nj in a report made for
the Civic Club, as representative from
its departure of education on the Com
mittee of Summer Fairgrounds, she
dwells in interesting fashion on this
movement, which is beginning to show
fruit in the influence it is bringing to
bear apo public opinion for the extern
sion of the work in other cities, as well
as our own. Miss Mackenzie Says
-Four Fairgrounds were opened in
Philadelphia in 1895 as an experiment.
These proved so successful that last sum
mer the Board of Education felt justified
in increasing the number to twelve, which
were placed in charge Of twenty-four
kindergarten teachers. The Fairgrounds
were, opened On the first day of July and
were promptly thronged with children
and older boys and girls, ranging in age
from five weeks to seventeen years.
Daily, as early as $50 in The morning.
the crowds began to gather, clamoring
for admittanee. Numbers of mothers
came for a quiet moment bringing the
babies in. coaches: bringing also the
sewing and knitting that had to be done,
listening to the stories, joining in the
singing, watching the. games and now
and then becoming as children again
with their children. and taking part in
the plays with a gusto tina was refresh
ing.
AS to toys-the general experience
proves that cheap toys n materials are
dear in the end. The shovels, rubber
balls, footballs. bean bags, jumping ropes,
all need to be strong to start with, for
they are subjected to hard treatment.
'Destructible material is a source of
constent encouragement and disappoint-
ment to the children, an added difficulty
TO the klndergartner and ultimately a
greater expense to the city. The sand
pile again bears off the palm as plaything
in chief. Every one enjoys it, young and
old alike. No one tires of it. No other
material provided has proved such a con-
slant resource to the little children. Par
lor qIoits, bean bags, balls and ropes
usedIas horse reins are greatly liked by
the older children. This list of TOYS tai
lies with the reports of the previous
year, dLu II may therefore, be considered
as q standard for summer fairgrounds.
Picture books and magazines were
liked by young and old. Several kinder
gartners brought scraps of silk and vel
vet taught the girls to sew. They
encouraged them as well to bring their
own knitting and sewing. Mending the
boys coats became a feature in one yard.
In another instance free hand cutting
was introduced with such success that
from the ages of five to the
children became absorbed In it, bringing
scissors from home and sending the re-
suits OF their labor to a hospital for chill
dren.
In still another yard kitemaking be-
came a hourishing business and in the
same place the father of one of the boys
taught the boys balloon making"
Miss Mackenzie does not stop with the
consideration of the external circum-
stances of a summer playground. Yard.
toys chfdren,9 she believes, must be
brought into proper combination by the
judgment, the fact, the decision, the self
controlled sympathy Inc the experience
with children of the Kindergarten and
the janitor. The friendly and intelligent
cooperation of the janitor can be made
to count a good deal in a summer play
ground. Miss Mackenzie thinks that the
Fairgrounds have already proved their
right to be. What Is now to be lone is
to place them upon a semi-scientific
basis. We need all the data that can be
gathered from year to year that acting
principles may be deduced.