Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-05-26
THE NECESSITY FOR PLAY.
DR. Curry Tells Why Play is Necessary for the
Healthy Development of Child


DR.. II. S. Curtis, president of
the National Playground Asso-
citation, addressed an audience at
the Industrial Institute and Col
legc at Columbus Friday night
and said in part:
Play should be a part of the life
of every Individual. Work that
is pure drudgery is destructive of
everything that is good in the in
dividual. Play and idIeness are
confused in the public mind. This
confusion accounts for the idea that
play should come only after all
work is done and accounts for the
attitude that congress has taken
toward playground apprOprla-
tiOn.
Play is taken in the educational
field. The educational value Of
many games exceeds that of some
lessons. 1t is taking in the social
field. Jane Adams asserts that
the playground interest has been
the most socializing factor in all
Hull House work. Parents, as
well as children, are drawn into
wholesome relationship through
this common interest. Play is en-
inently social III it's characteristics
it demands and makes friends.
The more homogeneous the better
the play.
During periods of idleness, most
of the vicious things Of life occur.
The boy without a playground is
father to the man without job.
This means that the boy that lOafs
is likely to become the habitual
lOafer.
Life depends on the amount of
energy the person develops. He
has at the command of play an
amount of energy he has not for
work. Play develops energy in
the largest amount.
Children develop PRACTICAL all
their habits in play. The OppOr-
tunity lies open for the square
dealer or the cheat-the feeling on
the directed playground is that
cheating is not pOrtsmanlike.
There is the opportunity for cour
tesy or discourtesy. 4 directed
playground adjusts "might makes
right.'
Play is more essential than any
one thing. \ mere place to play
will not attract the childrcn-ap-
aratus alone is not sufficient. The
In \ -, 70
organized play. \ director is nee
eSsary to attendance and to the
success of the playground in every
way.
The ideals of play are as i'm
pOrtant rs those of life First the
ideals of health. Health is the first
requisite to happiness and useful
ness. From six to seven thousand
children die from tuberculosis
every year. The playground fur
niShes prevention and cure. How
about such an investment?
Second, the ideal of physical
culture is embodied in play. Phys
ical strength is no longer at q pre-
MUM. Strong machines have re
moved this need from man. But
vital force, Il good heart, strong
lungs, steady nervous system,
these are the requisites to efficien-
cy i'll life. Such training comes
from vigorous motor play. Run
ming games bring all of these or
gans into free open action.
Play is the life of a child. 1t is
his moral mode of expression.
There it is he pours forth himself.
Athletics is the natural expression
for the adventurous, restless spir-
1T and Juveniles deIinquents. The
city that lays prohibitions on chill
dren III their sports and provises
them no playground is conducting
a school of crime.
Fairgrounds could be provided
at much less expense than courts
or reform schools.