The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-11-20

of the values and opportunities whic1
ordinarily accompany our city civili-
cation, it is reasonable to suppose
that the drift cityward may in some
degree be lessened. In a work writ
ten by him on this subject DR.. Scud-
der points out the increasing influence
of the telephone, the trolley. the rural
free delivery, and similar agencies.
Yet present conditions in the average
rural community leave many human
cravings unsatisfied, and these are
the very cravings that are strongest
in youth, when the monotony of farm
drudgery or the exchanging routine
of village life are especially irksome.
To meet this problem DR.. Scrudder
shows that pleasant recreation and
social intercourse may be effectively
promoted by expressing the play
spirit in field days and festivals of
play and sport.
The work of organizing and arous-
ing interest in a country school ath-
letic league, and of managing a
yearly field day, is SO concretely out
lined in this book of DR.. Scudder,
that any energetic pevson with a
group of helpers should be able to
adopt the plan to a given locality.
The purpose of the day is to have
active play and participation in STIR
ring occupations, avoid clap-trap de-
vices for amusement, and let the &C
casion be simply a gathering of the
clans for a joyous day of play in the
open air.
Thomas Carlvlye said there is a
gregarious sheep-like tendency in
mankind to flock together and have a
leader, and this tendency is first mani
tested in childhood. And this, of
course, al the game-it means
play. You can not keep children
from locking together; neither should
you. The responsible parent who
thinks to solve the problem by keep
ing the boy away from his fellows is
more likely to develop q molly coddle
or q milk sop. We want wholesome,
vigorous citizens, with rich, red blood
in their veins. They$are to be re-
cruited alone from our children. Our
duty, then. is not to suppress, but to
afford under the best environment
that the State can provide, the oppor-
tunity for wholesome association and
helpful expression of natural in
s~tincts; and one of the aims of the
Playground Association Of America
is to encourage state playground legis-
lation and provide model course in
playground administration for nor
NAL schools and summer schools.
Play being a fundamental need, play
grounds should be provided for every
child as much as schools.
The Playground Association of
America is rendering a superb service
to the country, for it is ~insuring to its
future citizens the fine physique and
alert minds that go to form the high
est and best type Of mankind.
Stevenson, the poet wrote:
Happy hearts and happy faces,
Happy play in grassy places,
That was how in ancient ages
Children grew to kings and sages."
We need the sages and the kinglike
men more than ever, therefore let all
who can do SO give aid and encourage
ment to the good and grand work of
purposeful playing. 1t is the privi-
lege of the public school teacher to
have q part in this practical work for
social and civic betterment, and l
urge the teachers assembled here to
get in sympathetic touch with the
Playground Association of America.
Their address is ga Madison Avenue,
City of New York.
I have not been able to do more in
this brief presentation of this great
movement, than to deal with the sub
ject in a very general way. Iearnest-
~ trust, however, that what I have
said regarding these two forceful fac