The Washington times., 1906-04-16
Fairgrounds and the Schools.

If the school bill reported to the
House a fortnight or so ago shall
become law, and the commission
provided TO prepare a plan for the
construction of a few larger build
ings in lieu of many of the present
small buildings shall do its work,
the city ought TO benefit by the pro-
vision of as many fine new play
grounds as there are new buildings
That the merger of several small
schools into few larger ones will
reduce the annual cost of main
tenance, is an important factor. but
1t was not the only factor the House
other considerations were better
ments all along the line-a build
ing better built, better planned, bet
ter equipped, better suited to the use
of the children in every way.
A playground is one of the first
needs of the American school. Few
things less Harmonious TO the spirit
of our institutions than a school like
the Webster, at Tenth and H streets,
could easily be found 1t stands on
a terrace at a corner The children
there must either play in the street
or in the basement. There is no
more room for healthful exercise
than there is in an apartment house.
AS far as school conditions go,
therefore, we are developing chill
dren in the district served by the
Webster. who shall have minds ever
so strong and bodies ever so weak
No other space is so well adapted
TO use for a playground as the
school yard. The special committee
which submitted a report to the
Commissioners at the close of last
week, against making such use of
the triangular spaces and small
parks, saw the situation as it is.
If converted into Fairgrounds those
spaces would cease TO be parks: if
not converted into Fairgrounds with
an equipment equal to the demands
the children might be expected TO
make upon il, they would be of little
good for that use. In either event
there would be no addition to the
city's accommodations, simply a
make-shift change in the use of the
accommodations already at hand
There would be a signal addition
TO the city's matchmaking equip
ment if schools like the Webster
were to be given yards of good
size, and the space thus obtained
could be made to suit admirably
all the playground needs. First, the
yards would be Government ground
and subject to exclusive Govern
ment control. Second, they would
be easier 10 supervise than most
other spaces Third, they would be
suitably inclosed. Fourth, they would
provide available. though not the
best obtainable. rooms for indoor
play on rainy days. Fifth, for nine
months in the year they would be
within touch of the children
throughout every day. Finally, and
OF the utmost Importance, they
would circumvent the limitations. Of
few large Fairgrounds to which
tie children would have to travel
mile or farther, and keep the play
groups so small that a more special
attention could be given each child
No one who knows Washington s
present need for play space would
interpose any obstacle to the pro-
cural of Fairgrounds anywhere
Such large ones as Congress is like
ly to authorize are needed and need
ed sadly. They will fit into a sys-
TEN of school yard grounds admir-
ably. But the greater burden of
the work, if II is to be done in
Washington, can best be done by
using the school yards. u must be
the ardent hope of every citizen who
knows the problem, therefore, that
any new buildings which are to
be erected - whether suburban
schools like the Grow. for which
the Commissioners have provided
abundant play space. or new schools
to supplant old buildings like the
Webster-wiil allow each of our
boys and girls room enough and air
enough to keep the body as strong
as the mind.