The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-08-13
TO MAKE SCHOOLS
SOCIAL CENTERS
- NOVEL PLAN PROPOSED Bv
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY.
OF the whseiIns Fairgrounds Asso-
eistion--Msttsr TO Come Up
Before Board Of Education.

The following self explanatory let
ter has been sent to the Board Of
Education by President J. c. McKin-
ley OF the Wheeling Fairgrounds As
scciation and will be taken up prob
ably AZ the meeting this evening.
The subject matter is OF interest to
all citizens and the letter Is printed
In full as follows:
August IL. 1912.
The Board OF Education.
Wheeling. w. Va.
Gentlemen
In a number of cities a new idea
has been developed along the line
Of furnishing health giving relaxation
and recreation to the citizens at large
and the plan has been tried OF open
ing the public schools as social cen
tiers during the evenings ofeach week.
This plan has proven of immeasur-
able benefit in many places. and We.
therefore. are going to ask that your
body open as an experiment. one cen
trally located school building for this
purpose. The Playground Associa-
ton. IL you desire II. will assume the
responsibility and furnish two direc-
however. would ask that in addition
to opening the building that your
body appropriate 100000 to partially
pay for this work. from the LIST OF
November to the LIST OF April, the
Association agreeing on their part
that they willmaintain( the best OF
order and be responsible should there
be any breakage OF furniture or fix
lures.
think you will find that the exper-
iment will prove very successful. as
this will provide a central meeting
place for all the citizens and the
older children who care to attend.
and there will be enough restraint
so that the effect will be thoroughly
wholesome and the people will be
benefited morally. educationally and
socially.
They will be benefited morally by
the wholesome influence. discipline
and the restraint that will be imposed
during these hours. and these meet
ings with wholesome influence sur
rounding the individual.
They would be benefited educa-
tionally by lectures. talks on general
subjects. by direct instruction in
some Of the primary arts and by gen
cral debates and exchange of ideas.
They would be benefited socially
by the mere coming together and ex-
changing ideas and having the oppor-
tunity OF association in a wholesome
atmosphere.
We ask you TO try the experiment
of bringing all OF the above advan-
taGes To n great many of your con
stitutens by merely opening one
school and contributing $4,000 to-
ward the expense of maintenance.
This Is not a charity. but bust
ness proposition. You have hundreds
OF thousands OF dollars invested in
your schools which are used about
six hours per day. FIVE days in the
week. forty weeks per year Now.
is not good business for you 10 try
the experiment. at least. OF nearly
doubling the use Of this property.
and enlarging it's benefits TO the cit.
liens OF Wheeling at such a trifiing
increase in cost?
When you take this matter up for
consideration. our Association would
appreciate Il. II you will allow them
10 be heard in this connection. ard
We most respectfully submit same for
your consideration.
Very truly yours.
J. G. MCKINLEY.
President Wheeling Playground
Association.