Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-07
SEASON FOR PLAYGRUNDs ABOUT TO BEGIN.
Six Grounds Here Open Today-North Stonington in It's Fourth Season.


 The season for the Norwich play grounds under the auspices of the Norwich Fairgrounds association, is to begin today with Director Henry Welt in charge and the following teachers for the first week at the six differ ent playgrounds: Falls, Miss Martha Reynolds; Thamesville, Miss Mary Graham: Hobart avenue. Miss Jennie l.. Congdon; Lake street, Miss O'Con- nell: Greeneville. Miss Amelia Young: Pearl street. Miss May Leathers. Changes in the teachers will be made throughout the season
 Director Welt arrived from New York state Saturday and held a con- ference with the teachers at the Board of Trade rooms. He gave them a short talk on the plans on which it is pro- posed to conduct the grounds. Like last year the grounds will be supplied with swings, sand boxes and other ap- paratuS to make it entertaining for the children and there will also be ad- ditional apparatus that will be pro vided as the director and teachers see the occasion for it arise.
 North Stonington's Fourth Season.
 The North Stonington playground will begin it's fourth season Tuesday i July at D. m. continuing through July and August It will be open five afternoons each week from to 5 o'clock. Saturday being a holiday.
 The work will be conducted along lines similar to preceding years, a part of each day being devoted to prac- tical and useful occupations. There will be classes in basketry and chair caning, which it is hoped to make profitable for those who take up such work. Ladies of the town will give lessons in sewing and cooking as here tofore.
 The swings. see-saws. sliding board, singing and motion games and other forms of amusement will provide ample play for all
 Miss Charlotte Norris Of Westerly. a successful teacher in the Providence public schools. and deeply interested in playground work has been secured as assistant this year. Her training. experience and enthusiasm shofuld make her a most valuable addition to the working force.
 Everyday Garments to Be Worn. All children of the town will be welcome, Mothers are requested to send their children in everyday gar ments so that they can be free to play without fear of injuring their clothes. Any who have chairs to cane are expected to bring them. A reasonable price will be asked for the work from those having no children in the play grounds. Parents and friends are well come to come as often as possible to enjoy the afternoon on the attractive grounds. The annual Tea Garden will be held later announcement of which will be made in due time.
 Benefit to the Town.
 The cooperation of all the people of the town has made possible the sue cess of the movement thus far and this ! cooperation will continue a chief fac tor this year. Everything done for the child is Of the highest benefit to the whole spirit and tone of the com . munity life It is the conviction of all practical workers among children that there is no more effective means of establishing right principles of cen duct than in the play life of the child The supervised play ground is coming to be an established factor in the edu- cation of children in all progressive communities. Many cities and towns are making it a part of their educa- tiOnaI system and are expending large sums of money in it's support Very few rural communities have thus far undertaken it. The North Stonington experiment has attracted considerable attention. The aggregate attendance of children last season was over 400 and that, too, in small community with few children. Some came very regularly a distance of more than a mile. The success has demonstrated that there is a real need for such work even in sail rural communities and that such work can be done where there is the proper leadership and CO., opera tiOn.