New-York tribune., 1901-07-26
ALBANY MOTHERS ENERGY
ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE PLAY
GROUNDS OF THE STATE Is DUE
TO THE LOCAL CLUB.

The poor children Of Albany have of the
largest and most beautiful Fairgrounds in the
State 1t is the gift of the city TO the children.
and was secured through the enterprise of the
Albany Mothers Club. The site OF the playground
IS in one Of the parks. luXuriant in trees. a
fine lawn and a beautiful view. Standing the
spacious ground is large untenanted house parts
of which the city allows the club for storage and
the housing Of the children when the weather is
stormv
The Mothers Club had scarcely been organized
three months when it secured this boon to the
poor children and their weary mothers. Last
summer appeal made through local papers
brought $3.50. With this money the club hired two
kindergarten teachers, who were assisted gra-
tuitousy by young women interested in kinder
garten work This summer the playground opened
on July l. AS most of the children are obliged to
stay at home in the morning TO for babies or
assist at household work. it was decided TO open
the Fairgrounds only in the afternoons Between
four hundred and five hundred children are in
daily attendance
Nowhere perhaps, have mothers clubs stronger
encouragement than at Albany, which is the centre
of the State Assembly OF Mothers. with which
the local Mothers Club is affiliated. The main
object OF the assembly, which is TO unite the home
and the school. has vigorous champion in Charles
r. Skinner. State Superintendent Of Public Schools
Does not such an organization, one that brings
the teacher and parent in closer concord, asks
ing house for the settlement of many little mis-
Understandings which would otherwise never be
can be of. practical use in securing harmony in
school work. There are hundreds of things which
teachers ought to know about children which
strllct most effectively who knows most about the
child its home life and surroundings. its char
acteristics its disposition. It's likes and dislikes,
its limitations and its capacity.
AT meetings OF teachers and parents can be
held profitably discussions Of questions Of dis
cipline, good habits, temperance, industry, self
control. good manners, good morals, unselashness
and how secure prompt obedience. which, after
all. is the true basis of good government whether
in home school
"A most important subject which teachers and
parents should consider is the courses Of study
prescribed for the schools. 1t is well known that
these often as overcrowded as the schoolrooms.
Unfortunately, educational authorities seem to
think they are bound TO adapt children to fixed
courses OF study rather than courses of study TO
children We apt to consider children as
We think they ought 10 be, and not they areas
God gave them TO US We pay attention to
standings in examinations. when the really great
question IS. How will children stand as men
and women in the communities in which they will
hVe2
BY better acquaintance with each other, parents
and teachers may combine TO force the public 10
better the condition of schoolhouses and school
grounds. Did it occur to parents that our
schoolrooms should be as pleasant as the homes
from which our children Gomez