St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1913-11-15
MISCONCEPTION BY SOME AS TO
THE ENDS ATTAINED
BY RECREATION.
NEEDED BY TEACHER
As WELL As PUPIL
A Designation of some of the Rea.
SONS Why Play Time Should
BE Observed at School.

In the teachers. institute last Sat
urday one of the timely subjects dis
cussed was play by the children dur
ing the recess period. It is crafty
ing to say that number of teachers
already lead their, pupils in outdoor
games and play. This is as it should
be, but sad feature of the discus
sion was reports from some teachers
: that their patrons objected to the
teachers encouraging play, saying
that there is too much Of that fool
ishness."
We all know that these reports
are correct: that q number of patrons
Of rural schools, and perhaps of some
town schools, really do think recrea-
ton In school is foo1ishness, and
think the teachers are misusing their
time to get out and romp with the
youngsters.
On pages Is. IA and Is of the
course of study for rural schools, is
sued by the State Department of Ed
ucation, is an article that SO strongly
recommends games and sports one
might accept 1t as q requirement. It
r. an interesting chapter, and patrons
who are not hearty advocates of play
for school children should call at
their school and ask the teacher to
lend them the pamphlet. II the
teacher hasn't q copy, the patron
should advise her to get one immedi-
ately. either from the parish or State
superintendent. The chapter would
make good matter to be published In
the Farmer, but as 1t is too long, ]
desire to enumerate some reasons
why the teachers should take her
flock out doors at recess and keep
them all at play fully ten minutes
ut each recess and longer at the noon
hour:
i. The room needs to be emptied
of the foul air every two hours. The
windows adm doors should be thrown
open at recess and all 60 out doors,
II the weather permits.
2. We all believe pure air and
sunshine are pretty good germicides.
When all go out at recess, not only
Is the school room treated to pure
air, but the bodies and lungs of the
children and teachers.
3. II they should leave the room
as all agree they should, why not ex-
ercise while out? This exercise
causes deep breathing, which they
need, and tends to keep the body
warm ii the weather Is cool. The
teacher needs these deep draughts
of air and these sun-baths as much
as the pupils. Her energy will be
reinforced, lessening the likelihood OF
hAn a do
ness towards the close of the days
work.
4. By organized play, it is pos
s'ble for the teacher to keep all OF
tne prniis under her eye, reducing
the danger OF accidents. Organized
nlay IS thus more preferable than in
d vsdual or small group play.
5. Another advantage of the or
Fanized play l, the social features.
Some children are backward and
awkward. BY ming.ing with the
others where the teacher can prevent
curt and humiliating remarks, the
timidity is rubbed or and all
M ngle as good fellows. on a common
footing.
6. TIE teacher has opportunities
o. moral instruction in the play by
requicing honesty in the games. She
can practically eliminate quarreling
and fighting.
g The teacher is afforded an op
rortan ty OF increasing her populari-
ty with her pupils. She is expected
tn Enow number of games, which
s'ie can teach the pupils, and by
coaching them, become almost a her
ol;le IN their sight. Her school room
influence viii become much greater.
II she thus becomes the leader on the
grounds.
3. The old maxim, IAN idle mind
- the devils Workshop" is certainly
worthy of consideration in dealing
with children. The key to success
with them is to keep them busy.
Nest parents want their children to
I've clean lives. They can not he |
c'ean-lived unless they are clean
minded. Idly sitting around in pairs
or small groups Is not conducive to
either. Keep boys and girls busy.
alternating study with clean, healthy
play and you eliminate the sickenipg
love affairs. so annoying in school.
There are some people. who are
SO warped and embittered as to seem
to begrudge childhood of its fun and
fTol!c; who prefer to see them with
staid. matured ways. and believe in
suppression rather than expression
OF the spirit of childhood. A letter
conidn't do them any good. They
are either warped hopelessly or Just
not made right. But to oil patrons.