The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-07-17
VISIT FAIRGROUNDS
TEACHERS APPROVE ESSEX
CO. PARK SYSTEM.
David I. Kelly, the Local Supervisor,
Explains Its Workings to Students
from other States.

|
Teachers from different parts of the
country were in town this afternoon to
inspect the Essex County Park play
ground system, under the direction of
David I. Kelly the playground supervisor.
They arrived here at o'clock and went
directly to the Branch Brook Park where
they exhibited much interest in the ap-
paratus and methods of instructing and
caring for children
First they went to the game fields, and
wer told how they were maintained, and
watched an exhibition of the games of
tennis, cricket and baseball. The teachers
were particularly interested in the field
house, which is of the largest and most
approved model. and expressed approval
of its fittings, the method of checking.
etc. Mr.. Kelly stated that the local field
houses are just the sort that are adj
vocated by the playground experts
Firm the game fields they went to the
middle division. where they saw the play
field. the wading pool and the new octa-
gon wading building for the ch ldren.
and from there they went to the girls
playground, manifesting much interest in
the shelter. sand court and the play
| ground apparatus Particular attention
was paid to the organized games. which
are divided nto three classes. the ball
games. the running games and the quiet
gams Thse have only recently been
adopted In the local Fairgrounds. and
lhave proved so acceptable that they will
| be adopted as a permanent part of the
playground curriculum The social occu-
patton classes, for both boys and girls.
were highly approved and it was with
much interest that the Wis tors watched
the weaving of rafflia and the making of
/ doll clothes and fancy work. The boys
playground In the Sussex avenue division
was then visited. where the boys went
| through a number Of stunts for the
teachers. >The 'gymnastic apparatus was
| highly approved. and many printable
deas were gained from the inspection,
accompanied by the explanatory remarks
of Mr.. Kelly.
From the Branch Brook Park the visitors
were escorted to the West Side Park,
where all of the sections were visited and
commented upon. The centre of amuse-
ment seemed TO be the sandpit, where the
small folk rolled about and built wonderful
castles, only to demolish them for ones of
nobler proportions. AS might be expected
on a day like today, the wading pool was
crowded with splashing laughing young
| sters, who gave IA very apt demonstration
| of the value of wading pools in the parks.
After the West Side Park, both sections,
had been thoroughly inspected, the stu
dents went downtown to the East Side
! playground. which was filled with boys and
4 girls OF all ages Here, too, the shelters
and outbuildings were looked over and won
remarks Of appreciation from the admiring
visitors. The games In this park were in
full swing, the Flying Dutchman," Won
der-ful sort of circle swing, wherein the
4 child runs around clinSng TO a rope and
swings himself free from the ground, SEEM
ing to be particular attraction.
Before they went home the teachers Wis
tied the new Riverside Park. which is be-
ing constructed downtown, facing the
river front and with its rear facing Mar
ket street. Here the process Of construct
ing such a park was fully explained by Mr..
Kelly, and some of the men who were
overseeing the work.
At the conclusion of their rounds the
teachers expressed a great deal Of satis-
faction and approval over what they had
seen.
The visitors are students in the New
York University Summer School, where
they are taking a course IN playground in
struction and administration. Mr. Kelly
Is one OF the Instructors in that institu-
ton.
Today's visitors included Lee Herman
OF New York; Miss Mary Virgins, OF
Buffalo; Miss Julia Ingraham, of Louis
n.y. LUIS rforez, OF ShlllS James
p. Miles, of Alabama; Mrs J. ". D.
Young, of New York; George Wilton, OF
Newark; Miss Elsie Williams, of SYRIA.
cuse; Miss Clara May. of Ohio! Miss
Zetta Bryant, of Ohio; Miss Anna Chris
tan. of Trenton; Miss Ella Stevers, oi
ONO; Miss Mary Thomas, of Ohio: Fred
erick W. Dickson. of Tennessee; Miss
Eizapeth Roberts. OF New York; Miss
Asnes Ryan, of New York, and Miss May
layton OF the Normal College, Illinois
IN the course of the next few weeks an
o1ner nstallmenti of students will be
shown the WORKINGS of the ESSEX Countv
playground system BY Mr.. Kelly The
system has become well known through
out the country, through lecturers who
! nave inspected 1t and approved