The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-03

Outlining the duties Of q recreation +
superintendent and supervisor, urging
the nscessity OF corporation win the
public schools and the need for more
space for Fairgrounds, the committee
OF recreation and play grounds fester-
day made public statement to the
public.
The committee declares for an ex-
pert, specially trained In the work. but
says that this does not mean that "
will be NECESSARY to go out OF. Hichl
'f1ond for the man. This expert 10 be
responsible to administrative board. but 1
the details would have to be left 70 Z
him. The duties OF the officials. and
ttlAas FER t}ae need Of more fits
ground space are set out as follows !
In the report: u
Some cites run training course For /
q week at the beginning Of their sum
msr work, In order that the assistants .
may know tust what to do and how
toa meet difficult situations as they
arise. other cities run a training
course during the winter and spring
and one session each week, taking Up
by brief talks and actual practice work I
the different details of efficient recrea-
ton leadership.
The recreation supervisor. under the
approval OF the administrative board,
viii have TO select, purchase and install
Eeuuipmert, select and distribute per-
ishable supplies. He viii have to ar.
range schedules for his workers ana
programs for each week, SO that there
may be no conflict and no duplication.
and SO that there may be adequate
supervision during the hours when
there are many children and less SUI
pervision during the hours when the
Fairgrounds are not SO crowded.
operate With School Felix.
The recreation superintendent Will
have to I co operate with the school
beard and the work OF the physician
training director In the employ of the
school board. Most OF the time OF the
physical training director in the pubic
schools necessarily has to be taken UP
with the regular physical training work
during school hours. The recreation
SUPERINTENDENT can work with the phy-
/ sieuI training director TO secure the ae-
!, yeiopment of athletic badge contests;
1 rrntip contest between schools, where
j every member In the school takes part
and the average OF one school Is COM
pared with the average Of another. SO
that even the least efficient boys ana
girls who need such work most, may
1 feel that they can contribute 10 tue
success OF their school.
| Public school athletic leagues nave
been organized by the cooperation OF
i such recreation superintendents ana
| physicaI training leaders In different
i cities. These leagues are formed for
track athletics, baseball contests. bas-
ketbaH contests and series Of games
| u all kinds.
have to cooperate with many private
! agencies In the city of Richmond.
Every private agency which furnishes
wholesome recreation to any number
Of children and young, people Is 50
much of an asset to the city. Ine
l recreation superintendent will have
to find out from these private agen-
| c,es lust what children and yourg
people they are. reaching and how
/ much recreation they are furnishing
IN order that he may see that pubic
recreation does not duplicate that
Furnished by private recreations; tnat
II reaches the children and young
nee pie who need III most. and In cases
where part of the recreation only II
furnished by private agencies, thai
,ublic recreation possibilities. reacn
the children and young people a.
times when they are not being taker
! care Of by private agencies.
In some cities the recreation super
intandant- co~operates- with private
agencies In arranging their summer
camps, and has clearing house foi
fresh air. work in order to see tna'
: the benefits generously offered by pri'
! vate phiianthrophy reach the chliorei
: who need ii most that some cnhdrel
40 not have three and four times a.
, much vacation In the country as otn'
. ers who need ii equally as mucn.
: The recreation superintendent vii
|, have to cooperate with the dineren
public authorities In securing whole
some commercial recreation in tn
theaters. moving picture shows an
public game places. Recreation ls no
: bad because 1t Is sold for money, an.
more than butter and canned fruit
are bad because they are sold TO
money. But just as the government
: has, TO see that butter ard essi hrs
! goods sold to the public are OF ;
wholesome quality. SO the city has Z
see that the recreation furnished I,
7 these children and young people Is Q
!. clean and wholesome quality. Thi
: is q tremendous problem In Rich
| mpnd. as elsewhere. when the week.
a attendance OF children and young peo
y pie under twenty-five years Of -ag
= runs UP to forty and fifty thousar
every week.
: 10 Meet Naghborhood Needs.
: The recreation superintendent vii
= also have to study special recreation
z conditions In different parts OF the cit
= in order to meet special needs A rec
reation survey was made last sprin
and covers thoroughly the general on
(, line on which the work IL TO be bull
4 up. but the recreation superintendent
: and his assistants will have to stud
= special groups Of working boys an
h girls to ind eut just how much tim
. -ftfex, have each week for recreatfof