Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-10-23

SO4AeA115 pa G4N-o anu tJ4lf SINd4 tA44IDl-
tons Of one kind and another. 1t.
takes little Imagination to picture
the benefit and source of amusement
and pleasure there would be i'm bay-
ing the six school buildings of the
city open nightly as city club-houses
to the men, women and children of
those communities. There is little
| doubt but that We could get the gen
erous cooperation of our city ad-
ministration and School Board be-
| hind such d plan, but in order to
make a plan of that kind efficiently
| operable, We should have at least
| one person qualified as an social,
| amusement director, one whose en-
| tire business it is to take charge
| Of such a proposition and one whose
experience, education and tempera-
ment qualities him to be a leader
| in such work. These men are scarce
and hard to find but they can be
| had and Grand Rapids could not
make a better dividend paying in
! vestment than to put some money in
| a man Of this character as a leader
in the Social and Civic Center Move
ment in this city. Instead of build
| ing Y NJ. C.. A for our young
men and a Y. w. c. A. for our young
women, with all the money it would
! take for sites and buildings and then
the expense of up-keepa nd running
| them afterwards, just figure up for
a moment the slight cost it would
take comparatively to this entire
city and its citizens to open the six
| school buildings nightly as a social
and civic center under the direction
Of one qualified leader. 1t does seem
to me that the question of using
our schools as social and civic
centers should be grappIed with
without delay and some permanent
arrangement be consumated for the
speedy perfection of this plan.
The creation of a wholesome pub
lie opinion on any community ques-
ton is a matter Of extreme import
ance and a gain to the community.
Right in this connection, there is
one matter of public opinion which
this Association has been instTu-
mental in creating and that is the
matter of discouraging the giving of
entertainments and parties, in which
the children participate, during the
week except Friday and Saturday
nights. This is a mighty wise pro,
vision and this Association does not
hesitate to take all the responsible
ity upon itself, as standing firmly
for this requirement. 1t seems al
most unnecessary to point out how
hard it would be for any of us to
give a party, or allow our children
to give one, on a Wednesday or q
Thursday evening during the schoo
term without inviting all the friends
and associates who also go to school
and when one family or one set OF
children do give such entertainments
other families and other children
feel that they must reciprocate, al
of which is done to the detriment
Of the scholastic life in the school
/ have heard Professor SchWede say
many a time that he could stand
in the school and point out the schol
ars that had been out the nigh
before after nine o'clock. They al
most seem to have stamped on theil
foreheads: q was to a party last
night and didn't get home until elev
an. Consequently, I'm sleepy and
tired and can't help doing and
haven't any interest in any of those
dry old studies, and I'm going tc
sleep no matter what the consequent
es are" Where twenty or thirty
children go out two or three nights
a week the whole curriculum anG
grogress of the school is upset anC
retarded and this Parental Associ
alton, if it never did another thing
on earth, could disband tonight ant
depart into past history feeling thai
it had accomplished one good thing
during its ten months of existence.
You are all familiar with the diff
ferent meetings which took place las
year. In all they numbered seven
Time will not permit my going in
to each one separately but the re
ception and party given Friday even
ing, Jan. "a, 1918, under the aus
pieces of the Parental Association BY
the parents to the teachers and fac
ulty Of the schools was such a glow
special mention. We repeated this
same program on Sept. 10Th, and
expect to make this at least an
annual affair for it is only fitting
and courteous that the citizens OF
Grand Rapids should tender the
men and women who have charge OF
the training, discipline, and intel
lectual up-building of our children, a
hearty, hospitable welcome at the
beginning of each school year. Then
there were the social activities that
We attempted to give the children,
taking the form of little musical
program from a half to three-quarter!
Of an hour, and dancing party in
the Witter building for the balance
of the evening. These different par
ties have been under the immediate
supervision of the parents and off
GERS connected with the Association
with annie chanernnaoa and duo r.