The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-09

BY J. R. HI
Social centers in schools should never
be allowed to become social settlements
This is the keynote Of the message of
Miss Margaret Wilson delivered to the
Principals Association yesterday after
noon at Franklin School.
In anticipation of the passage of the
bill throwing open the schools of Wash
ngton as social centers, Miss WILSON,
who has been an ardent hacker of that
movement, yesterday gave a clear cut
definition of her idea of social center
work
schools. she said. essentially are dem
ocratic. and never should be allowed to
become places where one class, in any
degree, patronizes another class. The
social center idea should be carried
out along the lines of community CLUB;
citizens in the neighborhood of school
building enjoying the fullest privileges
afforded by the throwing open of the
building for community uses:
Would Unity Neighborhood.
The school Miss Wilson considers the
focal point in a neighborhood, the place
for unifying neighborhood life, and the
place for arousing a community to
movements that make for better cfti-
zenship.
She said:
All this does not mean that there
should not be an organizer, and a
raid worker TO assist the principals
of the school in the social center
side of school life, but whatever is
done in social center work should not
be on the basis of one class helping
another but on the basis of q true
democracy. as one individual work
ing for the good of the whole.
II rests with you principals 10
keep up an interest until the neigh-
borhood people have found out what
the school center means 10 them.
When they are once broken to the
ucwness Of the situation they VIII
have untold enthusiasm over this
community club house. But let me
feiterate that We must guard against
eny attempt to patronize. am ex-
trernely Jealous of the spirit OF indie
pendence, and individual response
biIfry that it is the aim Of the truly
social center to maintain
Talks To Principals.
The meeting addressed by Miss VIII
son was held at the Franklin School
Yesterday afternoon, and was ATTENDED
,,nlv by members Of the Principals As
ISOLATION, and by invited school Off
Gals. BY request of Miss Wilson, no
cheers were admitted. a transcript OF
Miss Wilson'S talk was made and later
given out by Miss NJ q. Young, presl-
cent of the association
Miss Wilson pointed out the danger
OF having the schools made use OF Dy
every organization that desired meet
ir'- .lace. The solution to this problem,
suc stated, is to keep the schools so
busy with community meetings that
IN re will be no time for outside Orsani-
Eoiions. She continued:
see no harm, however. in having
tie organization Of neiGhborhood
invite, as part OF the evenings pro-
gram, another organization TO share
each others views on a subject.
Must Not Forget Children.
While urging the discussion Of
civic activities, / do not want The
children forgotten. happen TO
know that MI. Martin, superinten-
dent of Fairgrounds, and several
other civic playground workers, are
now engaged in investigating the
playground facilities of the different
neighborhood5 with a view to i'm
T-oylng them where possible. and
/ suggest q hearty cooperation be-
tween the social centers and this
work.
| have great faith in your Board
Of Education, and ! appeal 10 il to
aid in carrying out my dream, which,
n realized, will bring wonderful re-
suits TO the city of Washington It
may seem difficult one TO carry
out, but you viii find il practicable.
and its results astonishing.
Miss Wilson paid a glowing tribute
20 the teaching profession, and assert
81 hat the teachers devotion 10 their
locals carried great weight when they
n-ut before Congress 10 urge a meas
u-o like that one throwing oIen the
schools as social centers. She said:
I imagine that when organizations
like citizens associations go before
Congress with a plea for something,
the members say TO themselves:
These men represent only a Ger
tain per cent of the people of the
city, and therefore they do not
speak the wish of all the people"
With such organizations as / speak
Of questions of interest TO all the
people could be taken before Con-
sress with the plea that they rep
resent the wish of the people, and
am sure Congress would then
recognize them
Not Social Settlements.
want 10 distinguish between
social settlement and social center
and I fear that without the aid Of
sou teachers the social settlement
plan will creep in. ! get greatly
excited every time ] think of the
idea OF charity being brought into
the social center plan The social
center should either be supported by
public funds or by the contributions
Of the people of the neighborhood.
Unfortunately. the bill now be-
fore Congress TO allow the use of
school buildings for meeting places
does not empower the Board of Edu-
cation TO limit the use Of the school
buildings 10 certain organizations.
believe the school should be the
clubhouse of the neighborhood, and
should be limited TO the people Of
tho ncighbOrhood.
I suggest that an assistant TO the
superintendent of schools be ap-
pointed TO plan these social centers
ia each neiEh5OrhoOd. He shall do
all the hard work Of launching the
movement: the rest will lie with
Won teachers. The principal Of the
school should have an organization
IF his ncighborhood, who would keep
The bali rolling. as Il were. But |
DO not think he should have any
authority over the organization. J
bclie,r the people should be allowed
10 saw m what activities They shall
engage.
Miss Francis Farley outlined thu