The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-05-01
Prof. buCkhdIter to
Write Play Articles
ADVOCATING THE NEED OF SUCH
IN MAKING STRONG BODIES
AND HEALTHY MINDS.

only few years ago play was re
garded by most people as merely {
pastime, pleasant and improbable
way Of spending ones time" writes
Prof. T. w. Burckhalter, of the de
partment Of physical education at the
Normal school, in the frst Of a serie.
Of short articles to be published ir
these columns on what is being done
10y the playground movement and
what is still left undone.
To-day we are beginning to realize
something Of the real value of play
Educators and social workers are ad
vocating it as an essential factor in
education and in the social uplift Of
the people. Business and professional
men employ play as means Of recu
peration in the midst Of the busy sea
son.
PLAY has come to be regarded OF
such importance that new profession
that Of the Play Director and. Play
Leader, has been created. Normal
schools, universities and special
schools Of physical education in all
parts Of the country are conducting
courses In play, preparing the school
teachers to teach play and specialists
to become play leaders.
1T is significant that the fourth an.
|nual play congress will convene at
Richmond, Va, from May 9Th to 10th.
Here play experts and interested lay
workers from all parts of the United
States and many foreign countries will
assemble to discuss play and witness
demonstrations Of what is actually be-
ing done The leaders of this great
congress will be Prof. George w. En-
|ler, of the University of Wisconsin;
George E. Johnson, Pittsburgh; E. B.
De Groot, Chicago, Jacob Riis, New
York; Jane Adams, of Hull House,
Chicago; DR.. Curtis. who addressed
the North Dakota State Teachers As
ISOLATION last fall, and many other not
able leaders In the play moevment
Some Of the tipics to be discussed
are: (a) National games" There
|are many excellent games on the list
that are being made national. Volley
bali and soccer football are to receive
special attention.
(b) Broadening the field of recre-
|ation," will include discussion of the
relation Of parks to the Fairgrounds
land the uses to which city parks may,
be devoted. A noted park supervisor
will discuss the Right of Every Girl
to be Courted Under Descent Condi-
|tions."
(c) Play in Institutions" will bring
a discussion Of the value and place of
play in institutions for the unfortu.
nate. The value of play for the deaf.
the blind, cripples, insane, dull, and
backward children, inmates Of re-
|formatories, and other unfortunates Of
q similar character, is no longer a
matter Of conjecture. Interest Of this
phase Of play is increasing.
(d) Play in foreign lands will be
discussed. Persia, Russia, China and
Uruguay are writing to the Playground
Association of America relative to
play in these countries. showing that
the play movement is worldwide
movement.
Our immediate section Of the coun-
try is far from the front in this great
movement. Progress is made each
year, but much more should be done.
IL it not time for parentsSand. teachers
to ask in all seriousness: Are We
making the most Of play as means of
making our children and ourselves
strong in mind and body and soul?
MISS LYFoRD SPEAKS ON
rue x,hnEpcAnveh neeone