The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-01

and chair Gaming. They were all
them little fellows from S TO IL -
of age. but they were at work go
working with a zest and pleasure ,h..
spoke the success OF the system
In other rooms l found c1rrs
the same age as the boys a. yye-s-
on housekeeping. knitting ana chr
cheting, dreSSmakng, clemenr.--
sewing, millinery, and embroid.r-
The work was of an exceptional a.
gree OF excellence and the spirit
the girls in all OF the room was ar
the very best.
The attendance oS both bows and
| girls is voluntary and the instruction
which began at 8 a. NJ. and closed -
noon was confined TO manual traiuir.
only with those who tool the cour~t
Il found Continuation Glasses ON
an upper floor of the building Tor IL.
| benefit Of groups Of pupils who re-
cefved instruction only in what ~.
college man calls the academic studies
THOSE W groups or pupils are -
! skfppers' who are trying to jump =
grade, and the hold backs who have
failed 20 promotion and are trying I'd
. get prepared to- go on With their old
classmates m the fall. The idea is
| good one and is WORKING out most
succeSSfuliy.
But 10 me one oil the most Strfk-
ing features Of the New Yor system
OF education in the summer tim, is
the vacation Fairgrounds and even
ilHt recreation centres In the after
noon the children are allowed To come
land play their games under the ii
ERECTION and helpful assistance or
coaching of competent Instructors. I
Twas unable to reach an afternoon
I recreation center but as the schools
GRO thrown nnan for rncraatipp .,-.
at night, / had the pleasure OF a visit
fon Friday night to a school in the
| East Side. 1t is known as Nj. I>S
and DR.. Stitt, who kindly took me
to see it, told me that it is the largest
school in the world with a seating
kcapacity of 1000 children. All the
Pupils in this school are Jews. When
we entered a large court or PLAY
ground on the first floor, / found more
than 700 boys racing and romping
about and playing all sorts of games
that delight little fellows from Z to
IA years OF age. In an adjoining
room ! found shower baths at which.
dozens were bathing and having q
fine time. 7 was told that these public
baths were very popular with the boys,
ana by the way, in another rart OF
the building there were bathing ia
%cilities for the girls.
rLeaving the boys recreation room,
L went to he girls department where
I found 500 girls enjoying a waltz. the
music being furnished by a band OF
six pieces. At the request of Or.
Stitt, the children danced several folk
dances n | have never seen more
graceful movements than | saw when
looking at those 500 little Jewish girls.
on whose faces | saw joy and delight
that is the greatest Justification OF
this new departure in education in
New York City.
MY next visit was paid to a school
as different firm the bove as pos
sible, a school on Mott street, in which
we found 1900 little girls-all Of them
Italians. They too were dancing un-
der the care and instruction of com
Fetent instructors who 50 varied the
sport from dancing to marching and
other exercises that the children were
happy and delighted all the time. This
new movement to give instruction N
manual training and domestic science,
to teach the ambitious and backward
children in the vacation, to furnish
them play grounds in the afternoon,
and to get them off OF the streets
Of the crowded city at night is u great
step forward for the great city Of
New York, and the money spent for
instructors, for lights, and for music
is about the best investment | believe
that a great city can make. 1T was
an inspiring visit that | made to these
school in New York and / hope to
visit them again and study them moro
lcarefully."