The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-02

chase OF a moving picture machine
Tor the schools. Some of the titles
of these shows, such as 'The Min
ute Man. 'The Death of Nathan
Hale, The StaASpangled Banner
the Declaration Of Independence,
etc. show how useful moving pic
lures may become in teaching his
tory and inculcating lessons of pa
triotism.
sin adapting the moving picture
for use In the schools it will be nee
essary to exercise strict supervision
to see that the facts Of history are
correctly presented 1 find. for ex-
ample, that in the show called 'The
Declaration of Independence the
scenes are actually taken from the
independence Hall. the cradle of lib
erty at Philadelphia. but the effect
Is spoiled by representing young
John Quincy Adams, afterward Pres
ident of the United States, as the
boy who notified the old bellman to
pull the rope. OF course, thai Is an
inexcusable perversion of the truth
of history which should not be al
lowed in the schools.
More Fairgrounds Favored
'.There ought to be more play
grounds scattered all over the city,
and all of them supervised Going
through town one sees forlorn little
figures In the doorways and on the
curbstones, who are actually suffer-
ING for place In which to play [
have been greatly interested in the
Fairgrounds lately started in Fort
Wayne and other Indiana towns.
One of the most complete | have
visited, though small one. is at
Columbus. 1t was opened for the
first time this summer 4 friend
sent me picture only yesterday of
a group of dozen or more happy
youngsters in the swimming pool at
the Columbus Fairgrounds. The ex-
pressions on their faces spoke vol
umes in proof of the wisdom of the
women and men who made possible
such a venture.
"The Fairgrounds at Columbus
will well repay the closest study and
scrutiny of those who are interested
in the playground movement. Moth
ing has been left undone to make
the venture a success. A competent
and experienced supervisor was
brought from the East to take
charge. There is the delightful little
swimming pool, a maypole, the 'tet-
ers' which are so dear to the hearts
of the small boys and girls, horizon
tai bars, several kinds of swings and
about all the other paraphernalia
that would contribute to the health
full exercise and well-direeted enjoy
ment Of young America. Children
can easily be kept off the streets
when they have such place to 60
to.
"Then we need in Indianapolis
better schools, where the children
will do what Superintendent Writ of
the Gary schools has succeeded in
bringing about there. At Gary the
children are In school from $50 a.
m. until 5 p. M, and they go until
they finish the eleventh grade in
stead of dropping out at the age of
IA or younger. Glasses in domestic
science and vocational training are
and the school buildings
are open twelve months In the year
Half Of the children are studying or
while the other halt are In
the manual training shops, labora-
tories. trade classes, sewing classes.
etc., OF at play, for the educational
value of play is not lost sight Of at
Gary. By the way, Mr. Writ is to
be here to address our state fedora
tion convention. on October &c. and
we are placing his talk Iate in the
afternoon so fhaf the teachers of the
city may hear him. / have never
heard him. but man who has done
what he has accomplished at Gary
has message.
Schools as Social Centers
"By all means every schoolhouse
in Indianapolis ought to be made q
social center for its neighborhood
and the sooner we begin this the
better. Indianapolis is NOT & very
la ige city now, but it will be soma
day, and we may guard against some