The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-11-29
CURRENT PRESS COMMENT
The Neighborhood Spn-it and Training
for Citizenship

|
{ The formation of an Organization
the purpose of which is primarily
training for citizenship has resulted
from the National Conference of So
cial Center and Civic Development
held in Madison, Wisconsin, under the
auspices of the University of Wiscon-
sin and a temporary Social Center as
ISOLATION.
The associations purpose Is train
| ing for citizenship through the pro-
motion of this spirit the association
sees the logical place to be the COM
munity's one great common property,
dedicated to its most intimate interest
the public schools.
The first plank in the platform
adopted at the conference says: THE
social center represents all the people
in those interests which are common
to all. 1t is the peoples forum and
permanent headquarters for citizen
ship and neighborly spirit. In it the
people come to know one another and
how to make their government work.
The public school plant now functions
only in part. Its present service is
paternal. The social center makes it
also function fraternally. Details of
this widened use of the school plant
vary with local needs, but it's spirit is
the Lincoln spirit.
That one state is already commit
ted to this broader ideal of education
is witnessed by the passage of a bill
in the last Wisconsin legislature pro-
viding for the free use of school
house and school grounds for discus
sion or recreational purposes, upon
due application. The idea is to get
the peoples property in the school
plants wholly into the hands of the
people for the making of citizens.
This significant social movement at
tempts to answer several questions
variously expressing the same per-
plexity. One question comes clamor-
ously upon the report of the Chicago
vice commission, as it has been COM
ing for years to the ears of social
workers: Human being are not bad
they are good. And they love play.
What that is good can we substitute
for that which is bad into which the
wholesome recreational instinct draws
them?"
One question is the challenge of the
dance-hall promoter. as it is of the
political boss: "Well, what are you
going to do about it?' And one ques-
ton is the newly formulated question
of the taxpayers, who see that they
are getting only a fractional return
for what they have invested in public
school property, fought not school
houses to be used more than six hours
a day?" The social center association
believes that it has found the answer.
1t was first put to the test in Roches-
a few years ago at the hands of Ed
ward ]. Ward, who originated the
school center idea and gave it sue
cessful expression in the Rochester
public schools.
Governor Hughes, on visiting social
centers. said: II am more interested
in what you are doing here than in
anything else in the world. You are
buttressing the foundations of de-
mocracy." To the University of Wis
consin the idea was an application OF
| its own principle of abandoning old
standard to the scope Of a university
and adopting a new standard: that
the university shall expand to in
clude all lines of educational work
for which it is the best-fitted instru-
ment."
| Through the extension division of
the university, Of which he is now a
member. Mr.. Ward has been for a
year developing social centers in Wis
consin towns, and his work has re-
suited in this conference. The ma
tional association has blished
headquarters in New York and the
next conference is to be held in To-
| peka-Colliers