The Detroit times., 1912-03-20
WOMEN ARE VIcTORS IN
FIGHT FOR SOCIAL CENTERS
Council Committee Unanimously
Restores Item To Budget After
Listening To Arguments
Women won their fight for an ap.

Women won their fight for an ap-
preparation for the public school So
cial centers, Tuesday afternoon, when
the council committee on claims and
accounts reversed the action taken
In previous meeting and reinstated
an estimate for this purpose. Ii was
considered great victory by the club
women of the city, who believe the
social centers are an important ad-
junct 10 the city's educational facil-
tiles.
Since listening to the arguments Of
these ladies and gentlemen have con-
cluded that | was mistaken when 1
voted against the appropriation" said
AID John Thompson at the conclu-
sion OF the hearing before the com.
mittee. Il was ignorant OF the real
purpose OF the social centers when
voted against 1t. These women have
shed a new light on this matter.
have been quoted as saying that OPP
posed spending money to teach Dago
children how TO dance. / never used
that expression and don't know why
1t has been ascribed to me-"
Other members of the committee
readily fell In line, confessing that
they had misunderstood the true OBJ
ject OF the social centers, and voting
as a unit to approve the appropria-
ton.
The appropriation is $3,325 for the
teachers and $l,190 for janitors. So
cial centers are now established in
the Bishop, Newberry, Capron and
Greusel schools. The Clippert, Lillt-
bridge and Campbell schools will also
be used as social centers II the esti-
mate stands.
The hearing before the committee
brought forth some interesting data
concerning the training OF children
from Mrs. p. J. Farrell, Mrs, G. II.
Hodges, Mrs. George T. Hendrie, Mrs.
III. G. Sherrard, Mrs Nettie Carron, G..
ID. Pope. and Attorneys Otto Kirchner
and Charles Warren.
At one stage OF the proceedings the
question arose as to when school chill
dren should graduate from halliday
schools to the regular morning and
afternoon classes.
Aid. Gutman, chairman OF the COM
mittee, volunteered the information
that the children should be started In
''full-day" schools just as soon as they
left the kindergarten.
Would you do that?" asked one
woman, looking at Gutman in sur
prise.
Il certainly would" said the alder
man.
I wouldn't have my children do Il
for the world" replied the woman.
They should attend halliday schools
several years before they join the reg
ular classes. That is principle of
education; the children's mental de-
velopment should not be forced. They
should first be trained in the use of
their play faculty"
The aldermen had been under the
impression that the social centers
were used at night by the children
who attended regular classes in the
day time They were informed that
the thousands OF children using the
social centers are those compelled to
work during the day. They find rec
reation OF kind that really trains
and educates them in useful pursuits
in the night sessions of the social cen
ters The girls are instructed in do
nestle science, the boys are helped
along manual training lines, and over
all is the spirit OF cheerfulness that
comes from pleasant association OF
children interested in the same pur-
suits.
Supt. Martindale explained that the
boys use the schools two nights, the
girls two nights and both boys and
girls use them two nights at the same
time, but their classes are separate.
One woman told the committee that
within the radius Of one social center
there are five moving picture shows.
She suggested to the committee that
the city should not begrudge the little
appropriation necessary TO keep the