The Penn's Grove record., 1912-12-06
SCHOOL SOCIAL CENTRES
Broader Use of the School House as
Nursery of Good Citizenship

The movement for ''a broader use of
the school plant" started in the cities
in the utilization of the school as a
| social centre in the tenement district.
1t is spreading everywhere, and in no
| community is its need greater than in
the rural localities. The use Of the
school as a political centre is not new
in one sense because the public school
building has been used for speaking for
primaries and for caucuses as well as
for elections for many years in some
States, and such use has not always
met with the approval of those having
the best interest of the community at
healt.
The modern idea of the use of the
school building for political purposes
consists not in having a gathering of a
few of The local politicians who, amidst
clouds of bad tobacco smoke AMI much
expectoration, to be cleaned up before
the room is fit for the occupancy of the
children next day, plan secret schemes
of personal interest, but rather in using
the school building, as an educational
centre, from which will go u know
ledge of interest and benefit to the Ell
tire community. 1t can be utilized as
a lecture hall where men and women
will gather to hear live discussions of
the different sides of the current politi-
cal issues. The children are taught
that politics is really the practical ap-
plication of good citizenship, ani they
carry home to their parents this idea,
and the parents are glad TO come to the
school for further information. There
is no reason why the school house may
not serve as a medium fer the distribu-
tion OF cam align literature, provided it
is done i'll all absolutely non partisan
spirit, and all sides have equal advan-
tages.
The first meeting of the School Social
Centre Association was held in Dallas,
Texas, i'll 1911. While it was attended
chiefly by representatives of the South
ern States, its Influence was felt
throughout the country and la t spring
a similar gathering was he d in Wiscon-
sin which was the fis' State in The
Union to have a bill passed by lis State
Legislature providing That The school
houses sh Juld be used for social and
educational purposes other than their
original object. At the meeting of the
Department of Superint endence of the
National Educ ton Associa ion, con-
siderable attention was given to the
matter Of the School Social Centre both
with reference to The town and tile
rural community.
The school, representing as it does the
different interests Of a community,
tends to focallze many movement tend
ing to the public welfare. The TACT
that no less than eleven different organ
izations, some IF which had seemingly
antagonistic purposes, We're yet able to
unite their influence TO secure the open.
ing of the school centres in Roclesle L
New York, shows the value of the
centre i'll uniting comm unity interests.
The Rochester school were probably
among the first to be utilized for politi-
cal purposes, Tut from the organiza-
tlons Of tbell social work, rival politi-
Clans have made their powers of cam
paign oratory a stroLg feature of the
programs Of The mems clubs which
meet on Friday evenings.
In the rural districts, the social GEN.
tres enter directly into the work of the
farmer. Many of them own collections
Of bulletins of the Department of
Agriculture which are loaned WHEN de-
Sill Ell. Sometimes members Of tie local
grange come forward and give the re-
suits OF their own experiments in all in-
formal manner that stimulates emula-
tion. The social centre always enters
into The community needs. In one
town the men Eut in a solid day work.
ing on the road, aside from the service
requii ed 10y the supervisor, in order
that the highway fora mile ON each
side of the school house might be in
better condition. Tie women of the
community wi h the aid of the teacher
provided a lavish dinner and supper,
which were served in the school house,
after which al entertainment Vas given
by the school. The community gained
the value of fifty dollars york being do
mated to the public road and the social
feature was so successful that the
School Centre Road Day is likely to be-
come a regular event in that commun-
ity. FREDERIC S. HAsKIN.