New-York tribune., 1911-03-16
FROM THE CITY PLAYGROUND
LEAGUE.

To the Editor of the Tribune.
Sir. Nv letter i'm yesterdays Tribune
practically anticipated the assertions mace
hy Mr.. Brsdstreet I'm regard to his rcsis
nation as playground supervisor. ] should
like IN add a little now.
I. The charges" referred to as preferred
in December against playground aueno'
ants were in reality the attempt 10 fore"
out the leaders Of the opposition 10 tle
unjust reduction in teachers salaries. lhe
three whose names appeared in the news
raper account Of the indignation meeting
were sent for and examined i'm the presence
Of stenographer and witnesses. Two oi
these were summoned technically on otne'
complaints They were reported a. re-
naming TOO long seeking shelter from the
biting December cold. but proved thai there
was no real neglect Of duty. as these ladies'
were busy while warming up In preparing
for the chjldrens Christmas festival. MI
Slower saw there was no ground for COM
plaint or he would have dismissed them as
he did one Of tho men instructors, Tor
neglect Of duty
? The attendants did not rass modern
rivd Service examination" II by modern
and knowledge Of playground conditions.
as the last examination was advertised.
The old-fashioned one passed in 1908 by
those characterized AS 'ft only To do patro
duty" was far more comprehensive ana
difficult examination. including three
papers, a psychological and kindergarten
test, and passed by only 10 out of $50 VINO
took IT, Many trained kindergartners are
in tho work as result Of this and SUB
segment similar old-fashioned examinations
3 As to the question of supplies. Mr.
Rradsirert announced tha. the children
should be taugh, 10 make or buy their own
"toys'-that ho positively would not ask
the department to buy them. showed
him that small material fer year for
several hundred children would not cost
as much "a one afternoon concert. and that
through the use Of balls. ropes, racquets.
etc. care Of public property and unseliish-
ness may he taught. and that poor children
could not contribute and could not be in
duccd to sit down and make racquets, balls.
etc. when they came to play-but Mr.
Bradstreet refused until very recently.
4. In regard 10 other cities. Chicago and
Pittsburg have been held up as examples
The Piitsburg Fairgrounds arr in reality
settlements-classeS and clubs being held
in separate rooms AZ set hours, q small
ward unsupervised representing the play
ground In Chicago the field houses arc
the centres Of playground activity. Now
York has a congestion problem and will
not stand for indoor work ~ its parks pro-
posed by Mr.. Rradstreet When open air
schools are being Instituted. and the value
Of fresh air emphasized in all directions,
parks should not 10 used for indoor work.
not used 20 the fullest capacity.
The City Playground League. referred to
by Mr.. Bradstreet last year az n band Of
experts" was organized 10 raise the
standard of playground efficiency in New
York" more than two yeafs ago. aud by
monthly meetings and NOR" frequent con-
ferences I'm committee on games. discipline
dances, songs. stories. etc. nave agreed in
forming a definite conception Of playground
standards. Before Mr. Biadstreets ap-
pontment he came 10 us fcr copy Of the
practical suggestions" which We had
previously given him for use IN his work
with the playground commission appointed
by Mayor Mcclellan. add this descrip-
tion Of the leagues work because Of recent
reference 10 It rs society for solf-pro-
lection" which term docs not apply 20 US
any more than TO medical society.
MABEL T.. M>cOMBER,
President city Playground League
Brooklyn, March r. 1911.