New-York tribune., 1912-03-03

Tvonty-dve thousand girls are dancing
these folk dances now IN the public schools
or New York city. taught by about nine
hundred and nfty school teachers, who are
instructed by Miss Burchenal and her as
sstants.
But for these teachers, who do this work
voluntarily after school hours" Mrs. Post
told the reporter, "our branch could not
accomplish much For last year we had
only $500 to work with-parl Of this was
contributed by the Board of Education
and we couldn't pay many instructors out
of 5000 The entertainment we gave re-
Gently at the WaldorfAstoria netted us
81 500. our great desire IS to have an attn
lotic field for girls. with hockey fields, ten
mis- courts running track swimming
tank and so on. Park Commissioner StoVer
has given us the land-a plot in central
Park-and another plot has been set aside
for ms in Brooklyn; but II takes 100000 TO
equip such field, and at present We can
do no more than pay our running expenses.
There are four athletic fields for boys IN
New York and its vicinity.
However" added the president Of the
girls branch. Il SOC a great change in the
attitude Of people toward girls athletics.
They contribute more freely than they
psed to, and ] have hopes that some day
we shall get our field.
"Of course, twenty-five thousand girls is
a small proportion OF the girls in the public
schools. but with more money we shall
reach more"
The boys branch in the year 1911 received
Sl4i70 Of which It spent N2Sl5. General
George W. Wingate president of the Pub
lie Schools Athletic League, in his last
annual report commented on the fact that
the girls branch had been prevented from
giving instruction to all of the thousands
Of girls who needed II by the inability OF
the women to secure the necessary funds"
Mrs. Charles Israels, chairman of the
committee on amusement resources OF
working girls. wants social dancing taught
in the public schools. instruction in So
cal dancing" she said, would be a
preparation for something they will want
to do later-something they must do. So
cal dancing has been introduced in the
schools Of Baltimore: why not here? We
must cothe athletics in aesthetics for the
girls"
Isn't folk dancing 8sthetic?'
Somewhat: but much of the beauty of
a a TX dance is I'm the costumes" The chill
dren like the social dancing much better.
Mrs. Israels says.
Let any one who doesn't believe this
watch them on recreation pier-how they
flock out to dance when the band strikes
up a two-step or a waltz"
Mrs. Israels said she believed heartily in
games for girls They need games TO
give them the team spirit, the altogether
spirit, and TO teach them to be good losers.
The public will learn gradually the need
Of athletics for girls: and the girls them
selves must be educated TO like athletics.
There is difference between boys and
girls; | have watched my own children.
and know girls don't like 10 get hot and
dirty boys don't mind. Girls don't like
changing their clothes to get into a gym
nasium suit, for girls are a bit lazy; and
then their clothes aren't made TO slip off
easily like a boys
"Of course. for some time il will be
hard to raise money for girls athletics. IL
Is infinitely easier To get money to teach
them dressmaking for instance
But girls must have exercise. and every
sort of exercise should he So thought out
as To have moral as well as physical
effect. How do ! justify dancing by that
rule? Wen, II girls don't have the right
sort of dancing taught them they may and
sometimes do drift into the other kind.