New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-09
FOR SOCIAL RETIREMENT.
SOCIAL BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS on THE
EAST SIDE.


has been carrying in this city work which
although and present restricted. eaiOOdiss
what may be IN time a vital principle OF the Ma
tons school system. II Is being quietly carried
that II has escaped the attention which its i'm
pOrtanee well its originality merits TEss
work is the formation Of clubs for working girls
and boys in the sehoolhOuses in the evening. Any
one who has spent much time in the crowded dis
tricts OF the city often have wondered at the
useless way in waich day after cay the great
handsome school buildings stood after their
primary purpose had been filed All around one
could see crowds OF men and women. young and
old. filing the streets with their aimesS stroIlinS
stHl more airnless fnruovabfity while in the
heart Of it all the huge. empty buildings seemed
the only lonely objects in the neighbOrhoOd. 1t
last there is promised change. which in soma
places has already taken shape. In seven schools
darkness brings not loneliness but a change OF
activity. The great cOurtyards are hlleG in the
daytime, but with older boys and girls who have
left the classroorns for the shop. clubs are meet
ing, games are being played; best OF al. perhaps.
there come sounds Of energy from the gymnasium.
The schoolhouses no longer merely PAGES for
instruction in the three Rs and their family. They
are social centres for the neishborhoo1they truly
belong to the people
About a year ago the beginning was made. II is
pioneer work Other cities may copy but they
have not yet done so. Even here the work is OF
course. more less experimentaI-that is, to
methods, FOR the necessity is only too apparent
The need the crowded portions of the city for
rational pleasure. physical and Intellectual and for
education Of subtle kind than that usually
included in the term. All New,York girls and boys
learn to read write. and even 10 climb no little
distance up Parnassus. but many OF them are ig-
nOraEt Of that social education which makes all
work together for the good OF the many. which
causes self-sacrihce for the benefit of the
munty
The methods to secure this end are various. but
the club is the chief taken 20 teach the
cal idea how 10 shoot There Is much TO be learned
in club; the other members will stand no non
sense on the part of one refractory girl boy and
the obstinate learn. perforce TO give in and to
pull together So clubs are formed among both
girls and boys Four schools are open for the lat
ter and three for the former This is a fair pro-
portion for the East Side boy Is necessarily a
greater problem than the East Side girl The innate
tional brightness across the Bowery
These clubs are in most cases literary in aim
least supervised, by an older person. some book
bated- The latter form OF entertainment is more
common among boys clubs than among those Of
debate extremely profound and include the sill
yer question the policy in the Philippines. as well
portancs Of the printing press and the steam en-
Important is the refining influence of literature.
less valuable is the training received in the
gymnasium In fact one is tempted to say in look
ing al the ger faces and s,ooping shoulders that
the body needs more attention than the mind HE
clubs. both girls and boys. have two weekly
meetings in the gymnasium 70 one for literary ex-
Crcises The girls have two hslf hours and the boys
longer. Every girl has suit and praCtiSes on the
horizontal bar. the rings. etc. besides solnS
through the regular CalistheniC exercises
The third part OF the social work consists of quiet
games and the circulation Of a limited number o.
books Tables are placed in the large playground,
and here the boys girls. the case may be.
group themselves around a game OF checkers.
crokinoIe, the like. Among the boys IL * posi-
bic to form checker clubs and develop good players
but the girls have less skill The attendance in
these rooms may be from two hundred and fifty 20
five hundred a night.
The class reached by the work Is made up
chiefly Of the better sort OF working girls; that Is.
those with a fair education and without vicious
tendencies. To introduce the less sef-respectiug
element Is of course impossible if the first class is
be retained but there is attempt induce the
girls TO bring into the clubs those who. without
being actually depraved. are known TO come under
the description of slightly tough If these girls
are brought in few at a time the good influence OF
the majority VIII prove helpful TO them under the
watChful care of the superintendent Of the work
As Yet the adults-that is the parenIs-have not
about 10 be formed and the desire is always 10
reach the girls and boys over sixteen rather than
the children. who Will flock in and I'll any number
Of schoolhouses as soon as the door IS opened TO
them.
The schools in which the work Is being car
rted Nos. 90 80 IL :. 81 and a. No I37 has
also been open but is now closed II Is intended
extend the work a. much possible and enlist
the cooperation Of the neighbOThOOds in which the
schools are placed Some young women and men
of the East Side already full of enthusiasm and
there Is doubtless room for them well as for
others to help if so minded.