New-York tribune., 1908-02-03
AMUSING CHILDREN.
A Society Wants Playground Within Half
a Mile of Every Child

One thing after another is being reduced SCI
ence in these modern days. Even play. the play
OF children. is beginning to BE- systematized, spe-
cianzed. taught by trained instructors and with
carefully designed apparatus The members OF the
Playground Association OF America look forward
to the time when this will be done insevery city IN
the Union. Henry s Curtis. secretary of the asso
citation. in article in Charities and the Com
mons points with pride to the fact thar IN tbs
month of November alone 100000 was expended in
The United States for playground sites for chdrel
The Playground Association OF America was or
ganized a little more than year ago IN Washing
ton with President Roosevelt honorary presi-
dent and DR.. Luther H. Cfulick acting presi-
dent. Lee F. Hammer formerly secretary of the
Public Schools Athletic League of New York. has
been engaged as field secretary 10 promote athletic
games. folk dancing and at Fairgrounds
throughout the country He will soon start out on
series of tours. and in preparation for these ne
is collecting information in regard TO play and
Fairgrounds in cities of thousand population or
What the association wants 10 do is 20 have
every city in the country draw a playground plan
which will provide enough municipal Fairgrounds
to have within half mile of every child AS
first step it will try TO induce every city 10 make
an inventory of all possible sites-parks and other
public grounds. marshes ponds that might De
filled in, abandoned cemeteries even. and every
vacant space that might be purchased and turned
into playground Already a vacant lot study has
been made in Washington, with excellent results.
The association is prepared 10 furnish advice
10 cities organizations wanting 10 eStaohsa
Fairgrounds A conference OF supervisors from
various cities is endeavoring to settle upon model
standard equipment for home paygrounds-one for
school Fairgrounds and for municipal play
grounds 1t will furnish drawings and specffca-
tions to any city desiring them Also the associa-
tion hopes TO with steel companies TO sup
ply steel pipe of standard lengths Then ii will
only be necessary to screw the parts together.
and. presto! the playground is ready
Children in orphan asylums the ones who
need Fairgrounds than any others. Mr.. Cur
tis reminds his readers They need them because
institutional life Of necessity robs child Of initis-
tive. and there is nothing like good hearty play
for putting initiative into child If only money
enough Were available the association would have
a secretary in the field devote ali OF mis- time
her time-to this phase of the work.
If the Playground Association has it's way
minimum requirement. in the psychology and prae-
tice of play will be made part of the training -"
every normal school in the country No teacher. E
is held, can gain much influence over the CT sdr~.
VINO does not meet them outside the classroorns
when life is most intense-in play Clark W Heth-
erington, of the University of Missouri. is chair
of committee which is drafting normal
course in play
In time it is hoped. every state will have play
ground department; but that is in the future. As
a first step a committee has been formed 10 draw
UP model state law 10 be submitted TO the various
legislatures.
Already. though the association is new. it has
tne nucieuS OF a HoraFy- Il pEacItcal VOFk1hs n
brary, and museum, which installed in its
Offices No. 624 Madison avenue. The Jamestown
exhibit has been secured for the museum. and the
library IS intended be the most complete on the
subject of play 5e found anywhere in the world.
Its growth and the growth of all playground
work of course depend the way the money
in In order carry the work they
have planned the association raise $1,000 fog
this year-which is only $1,000 for million of
children in the United States. And surely says
Mr.. Curtis, it is cheaper equip Fairgrounds than
build prisons and hospitals And the fall
ure provide play opportunities for the children
of the crowded cities leaves them exposed 10 many
moral dangers and costs bitterly in the end