The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-18
RECREATION ROOMS
FOR BOYS OF THE STREET
A Suggestion in Behalf of the Boys
Of savannah.

A Suggestion in Behalf of the Boys
OF savannah.
Editor Morning News: In view of
the apparent favorable consideration
by the Morning News of the sugges-
ton OF the judge of the Superior Court
to the present grand jury in reference
to the providing OF lone or more
rooms as comfortable places for mem
tai Improvement and physical recrea-
ton for our boys I'm each of our pub
lie school buildings" the writer takes
the liberty OF addressing this COM
munication to you.
1t is obvious that the judge could
only suggest the plan. 1t is also clear
that he intended the provision for the
benefit Of those children whose. par
ents are financially unable to give their
children these well-lighted, comforta-
bly, heated and properly ventilated
rooms for study and wholesome recrea-
ton, because the Judge stated the
wealthy may purchase these advant-
ages for their children. cannot the pub
lie provide them for the large ma
jority of the other children" Again
the Judge must have considered our
able Board of Education as the proper
authority to take charge Of this good
work. for he suggested the use Of the
public school buildings which are con-
trolled by that board.
1t is no untried experiment which
has been suggested. In New York this
work is a part OF the school system
and is under the Jurisdiction Of the
Board of Education. While New York,
because of Its greater necessities, has
gone farther than other cities, similar
work has been undertaken I'm Boston,
Philadelphia, Chicago and other places.
Is there any reason why thousands
of dollars worth of school property
should stand unusued for all but Ave
hours a day and for only a portion
of the year, when we have need for
more complete use and an opportunity
for great good? Even during the
school term, moro than twenty build
ings in the more crowded districts of
New York are thrown open as recrea-
ton centers. The name only half de-
acribes their work. 1t would be hard
to find a term to cover a work so
wide in it's scope"
While we are not confronted with
the manifold dangers which are met In
New York to those who prefer the
street, there are dangers to our boys
from the street habit" and there are,
even II we had no such danger, spIen-
did possibilities for helping our boys
by these study rooms and recreation
centers. There could be a game room.
where boys could have n good time at
many harmless games. There could be
another room devoted to study of les
sons for school or mental Improvement
By wholesome reading. The neces-
sary reading matter could be pur-
chased at small cost or donated
without cost, or brought from the pub
lie library. Think for moment Of
the many boys who are compelled to
work from their very childhood, and
who have no such place to which they
can resort
The young Office boy, the cash"
boy, the boy who runs errands. All
work la an effort to assist 70 defrav
the necessary expenses OF home. Con-
template the handicap under which
many Of our future citizens labor bv
reason OF having TO prepare their les
sons for school in cold, badly lighted.
overcrowded or other almost preven-
tive surroundings. These are the chill
dren who cannot learn their lessons In
the midst OF those deterrent home in
hdtHttot anu yOdhk men VINO desire
10 improve themselves IN the cvcnin9
I'm wav which Is denied them he
cause OF their necessity TO work during
school hours. Think of the young men
who might undertake mental improve
ment 10 1T themselves for higher sta
tions II they had a quiet place to
studvi
In mentioning the boys the writer
considers that the girls should be az
forded these privileges, but, as the
plan Is new IN our community, and we
are conservative. Il would be well 10
start with the boys and young men.
The writer realizes that there are
girls who spend the day In work, and
that thew are entitled 10 wholesome
recreation. ana the other advantages
suggested above for mental improve
mont.
II ~ important. OF course. 10 con-
slider the cost probably incident % tho
Inauguration OF this work. No one
realizes any more fully than the writer
the ever growing demands upon the
funds placed IN the hands Of the Board
OF Education. and how carefully nec-
essary a ~ 10 husband those funds IN
order 10 meet absolute demands. II