The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-02-09
WOMAN'S CLUB WORK
MRS. EDWIN SPENCER
Editor for February
Editor for February
Uses of Social CenterS


| Social center work is occupying
the attention of many club women.
To have the school house open even
ings and after school hours is just
as important in the rural community
as in the congested districts of Chic
is the natural center for the social
activities of a neighborhood. The
little extra cost in janitor service is
scarcely worth considering when you
remember that social centers pro-
duce good citizens. 1t is far better
economy TO prevent crime than 10
penaliZe its consequences. Children
who, have no place which is really
turn to the crowded street with it's
vicious possibilities. The clean,
warm and we'll lighted school house,
with its little recreation program, is
within the reach OF any community
and is a strong rival of the saloon
as social factor in the neighbor-
hood.
Mrs. Clarence Burns, an authority
on tenement children, says that
many fatal street accidents would
be prevented if the children could
have school yards and buildings for
play after school hours instead of
being driven to the street directly in
Il the way Of automobile trucks.
The Russell Sage Foundation sent
out a qeuestionaire to 7SS superin
tendents of schools. Replies came
207 cities that over 5000 persons
were engaged in conducting social
centers, recreation centers, civic CEN
ters, community centers, evening
centers. Mr.. Perry, who conducts
this survey, very truly says that sta
tistics do not give any idea of the
wholesome, friendly spirit which
radiates when neighbors meet on
their own common ground to frankly
, discuss the things which interest
them.
|
ton which aims not only to supplant
the dive keeper and the dance hall
proprietor, but to furnish stimulus to
means of expression, to develop initi-
ative, to bring the lonely into
frinedly groups, to organize forums
for the Qualification Of community
questions-to do any service where
by society is strengthened in its
ability to give opportunity to the in
dividual.'
How to develop the social center is
an important question. The woman's
club is very successful at that. First
get the consent of the school author
tiles, then tell the children to get
their parents to come with them and
see a moving picture sk>v, play
games, enjoy little music Or dane
ing-and 10, the social center is es-
tablished.
Social service was the subject Of
an important conference held by the
Massachusetts, Federation of Clubs
on January %, at Cambridge. Mrs.
Esther NJ Andrews and Mr.. Joseph
Lee spoke on the importance of recre
alton for school children and wage
earners. Judge Harvey H. Baker
showed how play grounds and SINH
lar opportunities for recreation less
en- juvenile recreation. Mrs. James
J. Storrow gave a charming talk on
folk dancing. The discussion which
followed showed that Massachusetts
club women are alive to the value of
recreation facilities and they are do
ing good work in this direction.
Recreation centers are carefully
supervised and encouraged by the
Boston City Federation, representing
10000 women. Reports are re-
ceived from each ward weekly, of
needs of the children in each sec
tion.-Ladies' Home Journal.
The Young Folks on the Farm
All the time taken to write and
discuss the problem of keeping
young people on the farm could be
saved if we would all get busy and