The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-05

New York, Oct. i.--(Special) )--"ShalI children be forced to play on the streets in danger of automobiles and trolleys, or shall the public school playgrounds be opened on Sunday afternoons for Innocent recreation?'' is the question a number of school commissioners are beginning to ask themselves.
 The school buildings and the property they occupy In this city cost up to 1906. exactly $ss.S72. .332.22. Since that time. ten millions worth more have been added to. the list or contracted for by the city authorities. And if the actual value of the land. rather than It's cost when purch ased years ago, were computed. the school plant would probably now be worth in the neighborhood of $13O.000 900. is enough to use this tremendously cost ly equipment only six days in the week? people are asking. Do the people get their moneys worth from this great investment? Long ago 1t was settled that 1t was bad business management to use this great property only five hours a day for 193 days a year for ordinary schooling and night schools. evening lecturers afternoon playgrounds. night play centers, sum mer industrial schools and vacation PAoy were 6SIdDllSHt0 50 I0aI the people might not co enc hundred millions worth of their property dark and idle as far as use by its owners was concerned for six-sevenths of the time.
 Now there are members of the Board of Education who think that these buildings should not be closed to the people on Sundays. any more than the parks and museums. This radical idea school houses are concerned. Under the leadership of General George W. Wtngate, Chairman of the Committee on Athletic Fields of the Board of Education, however, there is a canvass being taken to ascertain the sentiment of the members and the, community at large on the proposition to open four magnificent ath letic fields owned by the department of education to the public on Sunday, as we'll as to pro- vide their being used in school hours by assigning one school each field on one day each year for a School Field Day. These school fields, located in four different sboroughs, are large pieces of property with field houses. stands, tracks. diamonds. gridirons. tennis courts and space for all field sports. At present, these fields are in use only after school hours and on Saturdays. Moreover at present few tween a m and D m except on school teams, ever use the fields, which cost the city just $350,00D of taxpayers money Even these cannot do so be- tween A. M. and 3 P. M, except on Saturday. During school hours and on Sundays they are idle, in spite of the fact that every park, playground and athletic field which is open for use on Sundays is so crowded that many. ball teams and athletic groups cannot comI pete; and reservations are made months In advance. f .--..ss s ,S ..E.
 Gen. Wingate. who is also President of the Public Schools Athletic League. in considering this matter. got the idea that these athletic fields might very we'll be opened. under careful restric. tion, on Sundays At any rate, he wants each school to have a whole week day at the, athletic nelds so that the children may gain a taste for out. door sport which he believes will be most effective in leading them to give care to their bodies and gain the habit of normal healthy amusement as a substitute for less desirSahle form of recreation. He believes strongly that in the pressure of American life, 1t is essential that children como to the adult age with sound physical equip-