Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1913-11-27
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
AS ASOC|AL CENTER
Question Discussed by Pro-
fessor Ward and Super
intendent Kingsford.
BEFORE FORTNIGHTLY CLUB
Excellent Ideas Presented
by Both Speakers Dur
ing the Evening.

Last winter at the meeting of the
Ssuk County Country Life associa-
ton, Professor E. J. Ward of the ex-
tention department of the State Uni.
versity at Madison, and Superin-
tendent A. g. Kingsford, superin-
tendent of the Baraboo schools, unin-
tentionalIy got into discussion over
the question Of the public school as a
social center. Professor Ward is max
ing the idea his life work, is the au-
thor of volumes on the subject aud
has lectureu along this line from ocean
to ocean. Superintendent Kingsford
Is pratical educator and although he
believes in some of the ideas of Mr..
Ward, is not ready to accept the whole
propaganda, AT the meeting last
winter there was not time to discuss
the question so it was arranged to,
have the ground thoroughly gone over
at an opening meeting OF the Fort
nightly Literary club in the high
school building on Friday evening.
The Discussion Opened,
Professor Ward opened the discus
sion by stating the scope of the move
ment. He was the first to encourage
the school being used as social GEN.
ter and inaugurated the movements at
Rochester. He believed that as the
private interests are organized the
public interests should be organized
for the common good. He would have
the school house used as a place for
political meetings and as polling
place on election day, would have the
buildings thrown open for free dis
cussion of all subjects of common
interest, would have civic secretary
and director, would have moving pic
lures, library and other features of
our civilization in connection with the
school. Instead of having Republi-'
cans, Democrats, Prohibltionists and
Socialists meet in the building at diff
ferent times he would have them meet
at the same time to discuss their cues
tions which are sure to arise during
campaign. He would not have strife,
political hatred and bitterness as in
the long ago but would have the peo-
pie come together and talk over their
problems together.
The Other Side.
Superintendent Kingsford told how
the social center idea had failed in
some particulars at Rochester, how
Sunday event stirred up the city be-
cause it was in a school building, how
the plan had not worked in other
cities and to show the scheme was not
good, asserted that in the whole state
of Wisconsin there was not one city
that was carrying out Professor
Wards idea. He agreed with some
of the things Professor Ward advo-
Gated but would not have too much
shouldered upon the school. The Ii
brary is better at distance from the
building, an employment bureau is
more efficient away from the school
and he would not have the school de-
based by politicians. In some cases
the movement had driven excellent
men from boards of education and the
school ost in usefulness In the end.
The first purpose of the school Is to
educate and the things which detract
from the training of the mind should
be at some distance and away from
the educational center of the commun-
ity.
Each had few minutes to close the
discussion and the meeting was of
much value in that it gave better
understanding of the idea which is
being agitated in many communities.
There was piano duet by the Misses
Grace Racket and Gladys Dwyer and
a vocal solo by Miss Gertrude Guidon
with Miss Esther Simpson at the
piano.