The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-01
SUMMER FAIRGROUNDS AND VA
CATION SCHOOLS

oOMMER FAIRGROUNDS AND VA
CATION SCHOOLS.
All who have had large experience
In enterprises for the benefit of man
kind. admit that work among children
is most largely fruitful OF good results.
All such are agreed in the opinion that
the efforts expended in the summer
Fairgrounds and vacation schools for
the poor children of our cities is OF a
decidedly helpful character.
In the city OF Providence this Is tn,
sixth season of the summer playground
ana In addsion TO these, a vacation
sehooi mas been sustained during six
weeks on Benefit street and In the
beautiful grounds of the Eddy Man
SION on Bell street These have
Deen freely used through the generos-
lty or Miss Sarah J.Eddy and Mrs. Amy
Euuy Harr1s. The room In Bell street
chapel, for the drawing and kndergar-
~, Zen eiasses, mas heiped very material
~ IN prosecuting these phases OF the
work; this room was rendered by the
trustees OF the chapel The play-
grounds have been located at Charles
ana Africa streets and Willard avenue
Although the season has recently
ylosed, out-of-doors gymnasium work
mas Deen continued i'm the Benefit
street school four hours every day ex-
cept saturdays. when baseball has been
enjoyed on Lincoln Field.
one or the most successful OF the
playgrounds this summer has been that
located on willard avenue. The chill
dren have been eagerly anticipating a
trip 10 Roger Williams Park. and on
tuesday or this week their hopes were
realized. One hundred and five OF these
children. accompanied by six adults.
boarded cars for the Park. For one
hour soon after their arrival, Prof
Southwick entertained and Instructed
them at the Park Museum. using the
splendid specimens in the museum as
object lessons. That the children en-
Joyed the entertainment was very ap-
parent. An interesting visit was next
made 10 the animals, where Miss Il.
w; oiney, secretary of the Humane
Education Committee gave them an
excellent description OF animal life:
IN 5 was more effective, perhaps than
~ would nave been in the school-roonl |
because OF the beautiful creatures that |
We're within vision while she talked
various games were enjoyed by the /
children at intervals during their visit |
n gentleman had previously prepared /
attractive Mckinley badges, and each
enid was presented with one as a me-
mento OF the occasion. These were OF
UNIQUE design, and were surmounted by
a lifelike portrait OF President McKin-
ley.
Each child carried lunch and while
this was enjoyed i'm the picturesque
grove that Is arranged with tables and
chairs Tor such parties, each child was
presented with saucer of ice-cream
Hhat was donated by lady friend
AZ o.SO p. m. the children started for
home with their little heads full of the
events Of the happy day. over thirteen
hundred happy children have ben TAX
en- on excursions under direction OF l.
their teachers this summer. and there
has been no accIoent or unpleasant fea
ture To mar the pleasure OF the several
trips
1t is earnestly hoped that these plav-
grounds and summer schoon may be-
come permanent. This year the neces-
sary FUNDS were contributed by phil
anthrop:c citizens. but there is a short
age OF ne-hundred dollars and IL is
very important that this sum be raised q
at an early date. q
These Fairgrounds are located In ten
ement house districts, and the children !
are largely those who have little be-
side the demoralizing influences of the
street in which they continually play. ]
In shese Fairgrounds they are taught. 7
whlle they are being entertained as I
Wen. some of the most practical things. 7
Manual training. in it's simple forms.
IS mere made so attractive that the 2
children long to continue H. One Of
me larger boys who evidently does not a
en1oy school life. said he only intended
gong through the grammar school. but b
ipon being told he could then enter tho
Manual Training Department at the
tigh school thought he would go n
mere All OF the children were very
'ager to know IL there would be n sim
lar school next summer. and IL seemed u
o DC the general feeling among them c
nat II the regular schools had manual -
fha ON. .t,s,,l, - |
Ike tn go better than they do. q
As has been said before: y
In the play and the unconscious ! =,
work or the children there are To be
tudled certain sociological problems .,
which If solved may have "a deep infu- =,
nee upon the course Of public school 81
ducation in this country Everything ~
aught or talked has some practical ~
ent. To instill into the young n love u
n practical. work is their a m and the M
ope OF the educators behind all this Is y
nat the system will meet with sufi.
rent support TO become gradually in / ct
ram" II a.,
The experiment has been conducted m
New York this summer on large I
Gale
over $4,000 have been expended for
1s kind OF work
Iney nave Recreation Piers and in o.
very Pier they have Kindergarten ~ ~
i day 10 help entertain the little chill ~
rem On the green open places-thc .
uolic parks or the city--they place a -,
ndergartner for the little ones. Re- r.i
d's these phases Of the work. thev an
ista'n two vacation schools. over twen- r.,
Fairgrounds AMI several out-of-
Dors gymnasiums The schooI-rooms "I
. open for puiet games. reading, etc. of
'ery morning. afternoon AMI evening aI,
the week. over 20. 600 children have IN,
zen taken this summer down the bay az,
ithout a single accident. The children | gr,