The Detroit times., 1914-02-16
Uncle Sam Finds
NelU Uses for Schools

junction, closer and more direct re-
lhlonship with society. Like all
other exhibitions OF power, the new
junction brings with II the universal
administrative necessity OF devising
methods Tor testing various expend-
lures or energy IN the terms OF the
results obtained. In a growing mum
Der or school systems aud In many
buildings within these systems efforts
are constantly put forth 70 arrange
entertainments. discussions and club,
activities.
Another problem connected with
the evening use OF school edifcas
arises out OF the need felt chiefly by
me promoters OF the new movement.
OF annually taking stock. estimating
progress and reporting achievements
To the public. In certain cities the
evening activities have crystaIlized
into an institution known as social
center or RECREATION center and
there is both a propagandlst and an
administrative need or being able u
report al intervals upon the mum bar
or these 'centers But the increase
or miscellaneous occasions In school
houses has ia recent years become 80
great and SO general that Il is now
practically impossible to say which
buildings are social centers and
which are not.
The difficulty here is largely due to
the fact that the school center has
not been described In terms so con-
crete and definite that II can serve az
q criterion. Such a standard, to be
applicable as measuring unit. can
not be set up arbitrarily, but must be
based upon usage and prevalent I'M
dertakings, and before one can DO
formulated data which are both pre-
else and comparable must be obtained
regarding existing activities. The in
formation however, which school or
ticials now have regarding their IN.
dertakings or social center char
acter is NOT only fragmen tary, but
usually SO different from that pos
sessed By the officials OF another city
as 10 render comparison impractio-
able"
Among the principal leaders in the
social center movement at the pres
ent time are Edwayd Ward or the
University OF Wisconsin, who organ
/ lied the work in Rochester, n. Y:
Frank = Walsh OF Kansas City, chair
man OK the new industrial relations
committee. and Miss Margaret Wilson.
the presidents daughter, who is iu-
terested in seeing the wider-use-of
the'schooi plant" movement devel-
oped in Washington President VIII
son htssselt is strong advocate OF
the social center idea. and three
years ago at the first national social
center conference held at Madison.
Wis. made an address which Is CON
sidered as one OF the classics among
the speeches and writings on tbs
movement
The plan OF using the school as a
place where the people can meet 10
discuss economic and public ques.
tons and as recreation center IL
! development OF the last seven years.
and, while the Idea has spread rapidly
/ In all parts OF the country. there Is
still much Misunderstanding on the
movement. In many cases opposition
10 the movement has been developed
among principals and teachers OF day
schools, who are already overbur-
dened with work, and who fear that
the use OF the school house as a So
cial center will throw upon them con-
siderable additional work and most
OF the responsibility for the success
OF the movement Leaders IN the so
cial center movement realize that the
uses OF the school property and ma
chinery 10 meet the larger commuu-
ity needs will require additions 10 the
school stan. and that the extra work
must be provided for by assistants
trained for social center service ana
that the regular day school teachers
should not be further burdened vita
additional labor and responsibility