The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-01-22
Play..-It'S Function in Education
Mrs. T. w. Burckhalter.

strong as the OtneFS ana INC DOuy
gains symetrical development.
Play then as a method of recreation
and physical training is unsurpassed
because it uses established co-ordin-
atoms and fundamental muscles, es-
pecially if variety of games are play
ed.
But we appreciate since the advent
of experimental psychology and peda'
gogy that rational, wholesome. safe
and sane motor life throughout child.
hood affects benefcially not only the
childs health, but that it affects
equally as favorably the intellectual
and moral life. We appreciate more
than ever that moral strength is de.
pendent upon physical health-that
character Is in main a "plexus of mo-
tor habits" Man is what he does
or in other words we know that in or.
der to be really efficient individuals,
we must not only be healthy in body
but have healthy rational SOUL
Rational safe and sane mentality is
the outcome of a rational motor life
i. e. rational play life. The play ex
periences of childhood determine to a
large extent our habits and our char.
acters.
Plato. says "The play of children
has the mightiest influence on the
maintenance or non-maintenance of
laws" If we can once appreciate that
mind, soul and body are inter-depen'
dent we shall see that the soul can
best be reached through we'll directed
and organized physical activities in
which the whole child is interested.
Physical education offers more oppor-
tunities for ethical culture than any
other ethical agency because it never
separates these three parts.
Thru play the mind accumulates
knowledge, by learning to abide by
rules and laws of the game we
strengthen will by playing fair" we
develop character, by conquering odds
we grow in courage, by supporting
our mates we foster cooperation. It
is by playing the game" that one &C.
Quires chilvalry, fosters civic virtue
and develops loyalty.
Self management of play is the only
management worth having and if they
merely direct the entertainment of the
children without bringing them hourly
nearer the goal of self management
they fail to attain the ultimate goal
Isn't it time that we have play
ground in Valley City, one that is SUI
pervised all of the year around.
We want Fairgrounds for children in
order that we may conserve the health
of our growing boys and girls. We
want Fairgrounds to conserve the NOR
ais of our people. C. E. Hughes, Judge
of supreme court says: Il believe
that the average girl is good girl
and the average boy is good boy.
believe that the average man and wo
| man would rather do right thar
wrong. l have profound confidence
! in the capacity of human nature to
seize that which is good, and to hold
true to it's ideals with progress that
I is SPIRAL but none the less onward
always pressing to humanity's goal.
The best way to train boy to d.
right is not to lecture him into tears
about his wrong doing, but to show
him the delight of an honorable ant
happy boyhood. 1t is to give him OPP
portunity to prove what is in him II
good works. And the good will al
ways, in the main, with few excep
tions, prove to be the greater attrac
ton. Boyhood and girlhood mus
have vent for play. It is natural, i
is right. If boy or girl is to taxi
easily to moral instruction, to lister
readily to the voice of conscience, b.
or she must have a wholesome life. 4
few hours in the fresh air, few hour
of self abandon in innocent fun, I
chance to be normal boy or girl will
do more to reinforce more lessons
than many, many days of teaching
Thus the playground will be withou
any direct or apparent effort, one o
the regenerating and uplifting eorce
of the community.
play" says Col. Parker is, God
method of teaching children how t
work." THE play Of children" say
Froebel, "are the germinal leases o
later life. Someone has expressed tn
same thought less elegantly sayinl