The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1912-04-23

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| help CHILDREN
Improvement Committee Listens
| to Address.
At the last meeting of the Women's
| Town Improvement committee Miss
Bertha Freeman, of the Playground
and Recreation association of America,
read very interesting paper, the
gist of which is as follows: Why
teach child to. play? This is the
vital question son which hinges the
main thought and purpose of this
National association. The child has
a tendency only, not the fully de-
veloped capacity, and others train
this tendency or direct it. Most
naturally, it is the mother who guides
and directs the child's play tendency
during his earliest years. Later it
runs wild unless controlled. and mis-
chief results. 1t has been proved
that races advance proportionately
as the children have been taught to
play.
"Play may seem only fever, but to
the child it is much more and has a
deep, though unconsciously serious
purport. 1t is a serious matter to
him; through it he learns to know
himself, to understand the world
about him. If proper play is denied
the child, he will be less of a man.
In the unfortunate conditions of to-
day, it frequently happens that play
is denied, which is vital reason why
the playground association was started
We believe that the children-the
men and women of the future-are
our most valuable assets.
This movement was begun in Bos-
ton in 1882 but only during the last
ten years has it had apparatus, and
only during the last two years has
there been effective, organized work.
Ground and apparatus are not all
that is needed for the work; play
leadership is a very important fac
tor We must educate the country
to the need and necessity of play
leadership. At present, courses in
this work are being given in about
thirty-five normal schools and col
leges, and continually more institu-
tions are taking it up. The national
central association Is a bureau of
information and advice on this and
its related subjects. Some of the
things considered in connection with
playground and recreation work are.
games, sports, folk and fancy dane
ing, gymnasium work, historical pag-
eants, observance of national holi-
days, swimming pools, use of schools,
lectures, music, moving pictures, chill
/ dren's libraries, gardens, and other
things; SO you see how broad its
scope is.
I'm starting this movement, the fol-
lowing are points that must be con-
sidered If it is to be approached in
ltelligently and effectively.
First, a comprehensive plan; Sec
ond, the formation of a recreation
commission, which is essential to ef-
! ficiency and unity; third, a recrea-
ton secretary, who is trained so
cial worker, one who understands not
only how to direct the children's play
but is conversant with the larger So
cial and educational possibilities of
the movement. The results of the
work of such person are of fully
as much value to the community as
the results of the work of the su-
perintendent of schools.
Fourth, the question of employing
the workers the whole year round,
which is very. advantageous to the
cause. When the summer activities
are impossible, there are many forms
of indoor amusements to be planned
and directed. Fifth, the use of schools
as recreation centers This idea is
unanimously favored by school super
intendents, teachers and social workers
and it is being done more and more
extensively. Sixth, to obtain larger
social returns from the public parks,
which means making them more at
tractive, better fitted to the needs of
the people Seventh, recreational
surveys, call for an expert field
secretary to study existing conditions
and resources and to suggest the
most effective and economical meth
ods of adapting them to the uses and
needs of the recreational work
Eighth, community cooperation.
/ Put the movement on a truly repre-
sentative basis, enlisting the inter-
est and support of as many Of the ex-
listing local organizations as possible.
Try to have it appeal to everyone in
the town, not confined to few earn
est workers or liberal donors. Ninth,
municipal control of the movement. if
possible Sometimes it is necessary
to start and establish the work and
then put it into municipal hands later
on, when the city is ready for it and
has made provision for its mainten-
ance. Over 400 cities in the United
States and over 700 towns or cities
are actively interested in it, a.
These few added points are essen
tial in the successful establishment
| of a playground or recreation move
ment First of ALL unlimited, sincere
interest in the cause, an entire faith
in the value of the work, and dis
| interested desire to see it carried on
| in the very best way This faith
and interest may belong to only a
relatively few people at first, who
represent the handspring of the work.
They should seek the cooperation Of
local clubs and organizations, munich
pal, too, saying, We do not want this
to be exclusively considered as our
work, but we want you to feel that it
is your work, your interest, too
.Of course, such a work cannot go
on without funds. Let this come from
membership dueS ask for some sup