The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-02
The VALUE OF PLAY
Educators Agree That None Of It
Makes Jack q Dull
Boy
Well Directed Plays Have Mental
as Well as Physical
Value.
yesterdays late proceedings Of the M

a. vi page l.J
The program Of this year in the joint
meeting of the child study, elementary
and kindergarten sections was on work
and play. The formerstopic was 5consid-
cred yesterday and this morning PLAY
occupied the attention of a large body of
educators at the Central Presbyterian
church. The first speaker was Galen A.
Merrill, superintendent of the state
school, Owatonna, whose subject was
THE Value of Play" Mr.. Merrill said
In part: - re Pc
& Among the factors concerned in the
development Of a child I think it may
be truthfully said that none are more
potent than play, as it constitutes that
sphere of his life which is largest and
most attractive while he is at an age
to be most impossible. Upon the ma
ture and tendency Of childs plays and
the companionships which accompany
happiness and his preparation for the du-
ties he has to perform in life.
1T is peculiarly the duty of the par
ent to exhibit an Intelligent interest In
the play of his child if such play is to be
of the highest value in shaping the child s
estimates of life. Some of his activities
in play will need to be turned into new
channels, others will need to be made
permanent as a, part Of character.
timely Christian parent says Bushnell,
is to show a generous sympathy with
the plays of his children; providing play
things and means of play, inviting suit
able companions for them, and requiring
them to have it as one of their pleasures
to keep such companions entertained in
their plays, instead of playing always for
their own mere self-plea sing
Some parents who are DESTROYS OF
being wise and faithful in the discharge
| of parental duties, err by OVERRIDING in
| the training Of the child. This may be as
great an error as neglect in child train
| ing. Concerning letting alone as a means
| of child training DR.. Trumbull says: THE
| training of a child must go on incessant-
| ly; but a large share of the time it will
best go on by operation of influences, in
SEPARATIONS and inducements. in the d.
rectionc of a right standard Held persist.
emily before the child without anything
being said on the subject to the child al
! every step in his course of progress
Doing nothing, as a child trainer, is, in
it's order, the best kind Of doing
1.-The repression of physical activity
then, is counter to natures plan. The
child of either sex should have all thi
nervous activity directed to play that will
develop normally. and not repress tn,
characteristics DESIRED This is a funda
| mental truth: of the kindergarten, which
| with its plays has come as a boon t,
| childhood in this matter of direction ra the
than the repression of the instincts whic]
God sent with the. child to lead in hi
training. Those kindergartens are nov
counted best whose plays tend to mini
rnfze the mental training, or rather ALLOW
1t to proceed as an incident to the tempo
rarily more important matter in hand
"All along a childs career, play am
sports may supplement the sterner thing
as valuable helps to his growing interests
so that at maturity he may have the es
1 sence Of a many sided experience witt
:. which to meet the world as a man and a
i a forti6cations against the temptation
which always lie in wait for the incompe
tent. =.
obedience, forbearance, self control
joy, patience, courage, generosity, are ric]
fruits of well-directed play. Fortunate
the child whose parents and teachers Civ
such direction, for thus is he given valu
able training during the playtime of lif
which helps him to assume with inteli
gence and vigor the responsibilities of tn
workaday world; and on toward the sun
|set of life he may be able fully to realiz
what youth is unable to feel, that to hin
Ihas life been most kind whose characte
it has trained most nearly to perfection.'
T. ... Play for Grown-Ups. -. -
DR.. C. H. Hunter Of Minneapolis spok
on The Value of Play for the Adult.
He desired earnestly greater attention t
recreation and exercise as discipline &
the body as much needed as the prope
, schooling of the mind He recommends
the gymnasium, or. better still, outdoo
sports. He urged teachers to strive fo
the popularizing of sport in the sma
towns as one Of the benefits they can con
fer on the community. A healthy, ger
eral interest in sports promotes wider sc
, cial life and brings richer life to tn
community by a variety of interests, an
it makes life worth living for the individ
ual. s-~>. ~
Music and Play was presented b
Miss Grace Morehous, Minneapolis: an
those taking part in the discussions .wer
Superintendent G. e. Falkner, Washbur
orphan asylum, Minneapolis; Superinten6
ent J. M. Mcconnell, Winnebago Cit,
Principal A. N. Farmer, Seward schoo
Minneapolis; Miss Nettie G.. Dowd, super
visor Of music, Winona; Rev. Martin ]
Hardin, Andrew Presbyterian churc
Minneapolis; DR.. F. G. Bowman, Duluth.