Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-23
REVIVE OLD IDEAS
Use of School Buildings as
Social Centers.
TRIAL OF THE PLAN HERE
Children to Have Access to Glass.
rooms in the Evenings.
SYSTEM OF ENTERTAINMENTS
Meeting Place for the Parent-Teach-
ers' Associations and Other
Similar Bodies.
TRIAL OF THE PLAN HERE
SYSTEM OF ENTERTAINMENTS

Washingtons public schools. and, in
deed, the majority OF public schools
throughout the United States. are re-
peating history and are rapidly taking on
one Of the aspects of the little red
schoolhouse on the HILL according to
the educators Of this city. The truth Of
the matter. the prophets say. is that
schools are again becoming the social
centers they were in previous days. when
the grandfathers and grandmothers OF
the present day used to go in the even
ings through paths in the woods to tho
old spelling bees and other school fes-
rivals.
The officials Of the school system Of
tho District will begin an active cam
paign when the schools open in Septem-
Der to promote the use Of the various
schools throughout the city as social CEN
tiers. Last year a big advance in that
direction was made, 1T is said. when
parent-teachers association in its nu-
merous forms was instituted. While this
is considered an important step, the sue
ceeding steps. it is explained, will be
equally important.
Features of the Movement.
It Is planned that musical entertain
ments of high character shall be held in
the school buildings in the evenings: that
instructive lectures shall be given; that
the meetings Of the parent-teachers' as
sociations and similar bodies shall be held,
and that the school buildings shall be
thrown open to the pupils for study pur-
poses. OF course it Is not anticipated
that all this will be done in a day."
probably not In g. year; but every day OF
the next scholastic year, II Is anticipated
by the school chiefs, will see progress in
this direction.
The objects of making the school a So
cial center are many. those acquainted
with the details of the school situation
assert. Among the advantages which 1t
is thought will be derived from making
the school a social center are the follow
ing: 1t will give the children a place
at which they may spend the evening,
keeping them off the streets and out OF
places OF doubtful character; 1t will oner
education in a broad sense to the par
ents as well as the child; 1t will give
children a place to study in peace and
quiet. such as can seldom be had in the
average home. and. finally. 1t will give
the people a greater return for the money
invested In schools.
"No Question as to Benefits"
Speaking Of this last phase yesterday,
Ernest l. Thurston, assistant superintend-
ent Of white schools. said, why. think
Of the idea OF having a plant worth mil
lions Of dollars which can be used only
five or six hours q day! There is no
question as to the benefit to be derived
from using the school as social center.
There is no question as to the good that
has already been accomplished through
the aid Of the parent-teachers' asSocia-
lions. All over the country the school
the little red schoolhouse that stood for
q social center to the community" Ac-
cording to Mr.. Thurston, Rochester. N. Y,
has made wonderful strides in the social
center movement.
Philadelphia has also made some rapid
advancement in that direction. The at
titude of the school officials Of that city
concerning the idea is outlined in the
latest annual report Of the board OF
public education" Of that city. within
recent years q movement for the wider
use Of school buildings has been steadily
growing in importance" the report de-
clares. This has been due to gradual
realization Of the possibilities OF the
center for social improvement by means
of lecture courses. classes for students,
and for the wholesome enjoyment to be
found in entertainments. games, attn
letics and the activities and friendly in
tercourse of debating societies, clubs or
other organizations
From Economic Standpoint.
Coupled with this has been the recog-
milton Of the fact that to keep a school
plant representing an investment OF
many million dollars idle, a largo proper
ton of the time is exceedingly wasteful
from an economic standpoint Funda-
mentally. the movement is one Of the
many signs of the growing spirit Of de-
mocracy in our country. There Is no
other institution as near the people. per-
haps we may say Of and for the people,
In quite the same sense, as the public
school. and the demand that the school
house shall be used by the people as we'll
as by their children is an interesting
modern development"
The report then goes on to state that
the Philadelphia schools are used as
social centers by thousands OF people
yearly. They are used by alumni So
cieties. home and school associations and
similar organizations.
With the cooperation Of the parents
Of the District, the officials hope that the
next scholastic year will evidence q
marked achievement in the direction
of making the school a social center.
and making Washington one Of the fore
most cities in the country In being up-to-
the-minute in this modern movement