New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-16
"PLAY SCHOOL" TIME.
AN ELABORATE PROGRAMME TO BE CAR
RIED OUT BY THE BOARD OF
EDUCATION
STUDY WITHOUT BOOKS FOR ABOUT SIX THOU
SAND NETWORK CHILDREN OF ALL
AGES THIS SUMMER.


AGES THIS SUMMER.
Tomorrow the play Schools Of New-York. the
legitimate successors of the vacation schools OF
former yedrs-these having grown into great,
comprehensive educational project In which the ola
vacation school Is but division-are to open, with
room for about six thousand children In the va
rious classes and almost unlimited accohiho'a
ton in the Fairgrounds and for the open air sports
While yet experimental In a measure TINS SUM
mer work Of the Board OF Education Is now on
fairly solid ground. The play school," thus named
for the first time this year. is the evolution OF 'ne
projects OF the last two or three summers. Inc
nresent session is to witness many new ideas. and
the working out OF some novel ana in'eres'iis
theories In the play and the unconscious "olh
OF the children there are to be STUDIED certain
sociological problems, which IL solved may nave
deep influence upon. and probably largely change
the course OF public school education in this
country.
II ia nor until the elaborate programme comes 10
he carefully gone over that the real object OF the
play school appears. It's purpose. on the SURFACE
that OF entertaining the youngsters OF New-fork
at a time when otherwise they would run wiid
Is really deep one. Much has been said recently
OF the lack OF practicaness so TO speak. OF modern
public school education. 1t Is frequently contended
that the courses do not practical ends; that
they do not fairly fit the average child for what
must be his duties In life. Frankly the play
school avows its Inner purpose-to arouse In as
many children as possible the desire to make and
construct, to become artisans, instead Of as Is
too often the case, going into clerical pursuits
To accomplish this a carefully graded programme
of seductive and fascinating work has been made
up planned 10 interest at first glance the
child of four as we'll the young miss or boy OF
fifteen or sixteen Much that has been tried be-
fore Is included It is true (the best Of the kinder
garten and other systems has been picked ouD, but
ha sch
classes do not actually take up the work OF the
trade school Of to-day. but they reach out In that
direction. Everything taught or talked In them
has some practical bent. To insti into the young
a love for practical work Is their aim. And the
hope OF the educators behind all this Is that the
system will meet with sufficient support TO become
gradually incorporated into the winter school pro-
gramme.
This Is the chief idea behind the play schools. al
though there Is much more. few sentences a
statement or two, cannot OF course. give an ade-
qua te idea Of the entire scheme There Is plenty or
play pure and simple panned-pay with no other
object In 1t than to keep the children some Of the
time off the and to show them by force of
ample how to be less rough. One point should be
especially emphasized. however, that absolutely nc
books are to be used In this summers instruction.
There will be small libraries and reading rooms In
each vacation school building and playground and
books may be out freely. but It is OF the
foundation stones OF this theory OF intoxicating
the idea OF craftsmanship into childrens minds that
books are used altogether too much In education
and that a vast amount may be done without them
Seth r. Stewart Of the Board Of Supern.
tendents for the boroughs OF Manhattan and The
Bronx where this system Is being put into
practice lin Brooklyn there are other plans for the
summer schools, is the official OF the Board oil
| Education In direct charge OF all this. and Johr
| Jasper, Borough Superintendent, and Miles NJ
O'Bren, chairman OF the Committee OF Specia
| Schools. have empowered him to carry out these
| ideas. Some $4,000 Is TO be spent this summer
upon the project, and what might be called tn,
| plant" is far more extensive than ever before.
The divisions and branches OF the play school,
are as follows: Thirty-one school Fairgrounds
| twenty-one OF them 10 be open for kindergarten
| gymnasium and general games every day with tn,
! exception OF Sunday from $50 10 1880 o'clock.
from 30 to $40 O'Clock: ten to be open for thes,
| on the recreation piers. In the parks and in tn,
| open air Fairgrounds. daily. mornings and after
| Moons many classes 10 be established as pos
sible the TO be made with five special kinder
| gartens: outdoor gymnasa at East River Park
| Hudson Park (near Abingdon Square). at Crotona
| Park (probaby). and at two other points not we
| determined field sports. baseball and basketball
| Uhe latter having met with huge popularity las
| year, in large open fields that the Board will Sc
| free public baths libraries and reading rooms ir
| the vacation schools and Playground and last o.
all. the vacation schools In the lower eastern par,