The San Francisco call., 1906-03-25

4 from the taxes paid
IL III to keep up the public
R<VHTH% schools Hence has
IEEEINAS come the movement
for the socialization Of the public schools
which means a more extenoeo use %
.cbool nroperty, especially during hours
when school is not in session. we 90 ho'
need TO carry our memory oacK oNei
very many years to recall the time "hen
the schoolhouse was the social center ol
the neighborhood This was more marx
edlv the case in the country oisurlcls'
.,6 holds good for the present day IN
MANY places The village dance the Ialr'
the travelling show and often the Sunday
sermon was held in the little red school-
house. Why, then. should our large pup
lic school buildings, with their yards
large or small. be locked up at or
o'clock and be of no use TO any lNing
mortal again before o'clock of the next
morning?
What reason is there that the school
wards should not be opened after school
hours so that the children of the neigh
borhood may go there for play? And why
should the taxes Of the community go
toward paying rent for buildings where
the branch public libraries are located
when the school buildings remain locked?
WHY should the parents have no beneht
from these same school buildings when
lectures might be held there as many
nights in the week as the people of the
neighborhood would attend them?
II was with these questions in view
that The Local Council of Women in San
Francisco started out on crusade OF
Investigation as early as 1908. This or
sauization is made up of the presidents
and representatives Of most Of the wom-
ems clubs about the bay and reaches
large body Of thinking women. They set
TO work in a systematic fashion. realizing
that they could persuade no body of men
in authority TO act until they knew just
what they were asking for, what the re-
suits would be as shown in the same
movement in Eastern cities, and why
San Francisco should no longer be among
those cities far behind the times In look
ing out for the recreation of its youth
ful citizens. They knew that they could
not say do" until they were sure that
the laws Of the State permitted such ac-
tion. And so the investigation went on,
with the result that the Local Council OF
Women has published an interesting lit
tie volume in which Miss Lillian Bridg-
man proves TO US that the use Of school
property for other than school purposes
IS sanctioned by the laws of our State.
1t also tells Of the uses made of school
yards and buildings in cities other than
San Francisco, in Europe and in the fore
most Eastern cities. As a sharp and bit
ter contrast comes the report Of Mrs.
Sophia E. Peart telling of actual condi-
lions as they exist in San Francisco.
While all this preparatory investigation
was going on, one lone woman-a young
teacher in our San Francisco School De-
psrtment-took the matter into her own
hands and shows US an example of what
one individual, whose heart is in the work.
can do. To Miss Emma L. Noonan, a
graduate OF the University OF California
and a teacher in the Franklin Grammar
6chool-au honor is due. Because she felt
that the children placed under her care
did not have the proper opportunities fol-
play. when they were thrown into the
streets Of a crowded district, after school
hours. she took upon herself the task OF
remaining In the school yard until hall
past five every afternoon. playing tennis
or ball with her boys and girls.
II all grew out OF the fact that one oil
two OF Miss Noonan's pupils went with
her TO Golden Gate Park to enjoy the
beautiful tennis courts. Gradually tn,
little circle began to enlarge und
the whole class and then tn.
whole school wanted to go. OF course
that was not practical, so Miss Noonar
set TO work to see how she could ar.
range for the pleasure OF all who wished
IL. She first obtained the permission Of
an interested and progressive principal Il
use the school yard after school hours
In spite Of the fact that an old boarded
school yard is not the most ideal plac,
for a tennis court. nevertheless IL was al
that was at hand, so Miss Noonan Sc
70 work to make the best OF it. Sh,
bought can OF white paint and the boy,
helped mark the yard. just as theS
would the finest clay or asphalt court
Then she bought her own net and ball.
and the game began. Every afternoon
now finds the yard OF the Franklin schoo
filed with children enjoying their whole
some outdoor games. Besides tennis
AnIAC - DdorCt 1cN4As haAAdDd4l VI
The girls jump rope and the whole at
mosphere is one of cordial good fellow
ship-free from care. as children ough
10 be.
Mrs. n. A. Wood. the principal of tn
Franklin school. is as enthusiastic owe
the pleasure Of her children as is Mis-
Noonan. When the improvised tenni
court became so popular that it could no
embrace all the children who wished 4
play. Mrs. Wood bought goal posts an,
nets for a new game-basket ball. Thi
new pastime at once became popular witt
both boys and girls. and now there i
never an afternoon when you do not fnl
two keen and interested teams swayini
back and forth between their goals. Bas
ket ball Is a fine clean sport that fur
nishes the best OF exercise, both physica
and moral, for there are rigid rules o