The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-10-08
The Playground Movement
Paper Read by Rev. DR.. Stalker at the Recent
Boys Conference at the Y. M. G. A.

The playground movement is well
nigh universal. II began in the
densely populated countries of Eu-
rope. where the majority of the people
are mass,d together in large towns
and cities. The movement spread TO
America and has reached Calumet.
Why a playground? Is it needed?
We know that a child will play if it
gets a chance. But is play necessary?
We answer, yes. Il Is essential 10
the growth and development of Il
child. IL builds up the child, strength
ems its muscles, heart, lungs and all
the organs and members of the body,
and also its mind and character, self
control, patience. perseverance anC
consideration for the rights of others.
1T is natures prescription of the act
ivitics that shall form the child. II
is her method of making him man.
Since the child must play, the ques-
ton is, where? The ideal playground
is in the country where nature offers
opportunities that harmonic with III
child-naturc, shade, and grass O,
which To tumble and roll. an OF
swimming hole, trees on which 20
climb. and fields where the child may
run and romp. Those Of us who re-
member our youthful days i'm the coun-
try know what these things meant tol
Us. The remembrance of them ST! l
stir our imaginations and kindle what
ever sparks of poetry exist in our
souls. But there are many children
today who can not have playground
I'm the country. Unless generous
public will provide "A clean wholesome
place. they must choose between an
unsanitary room indoors and the
street where they hear things unfit
To be heard by young ones, and see
things unfit to be seem. And we all
know how much a childs mind and
character are influenced by environ
mcnts. We can, however, secure for
these children some place better than
the street ON which TO play; we can
secure some parks or small squares
where there is green grass, trees and
flowers, little GASES, where the sur
roundings are hcalthful and refining.
In Great Britain the municipal gov
eminent of every large city aims to
have park, garden or open space OF
some kind within easy reach of every |
home, whore the children can play i'm |
security. and weary men and women |
rest and breath Gods fresh air.
Many judges and juries recommend |
the establishing of Fairgrounds as
means of preventing juvenile crime, |
and assert that il is the duty of every |
government to provide OPP
pOrtunitics for healthful outdoor eXer-
else for the children of the city. The
founder of the juvenile court system
in the United States has declared: |
1T is no longer question that play |
grounds do more to prevent crime
than jails, courts and policemen" A |
judge who made a study of the rela-
tlonship of Fairgrounds to Juvenile de-
lnquency lately said: IAN adequate |
system OF Fairgrounds will work a I
transformation i'm many of our chill
dren, reduce the petitions TO and thet
commitments by the Juvenile court
and produce vacant rooms i'm many of
our charities. | believe the public
is the greatest deterrent
of lawlessness among children. 1t
stands for body and character build
ing and produces better children, bet
ter homes, better morals and better
citizens"
What has been accomplished i'm Cal
umet? For number OF years some
Of our public spirited citizens felt that
other than the streets,
were needed by our children. and
pleasant resting places for our peo-
pie. Many men spend a large portion
Df their time underground, toilng i'm
the mine. When they come 10 sur
face they should have a quiet, beautl-
full resting place in the open air.
where they can enjoy themselves. and
breathe the clean. pure atmosphere OF
heaven. The women do the shopping
for the household. Many Of them
came a long distance to the place of