The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-05-01
Editor Labor Journal:

The Everett Public Fairgrounds AS
ISOLATION was formed in 1911 and sue
ceeded in raising sufficient money
about $1,500-to equip one playground.
The board of education adopted a
policy of providing the grounds and
the supervision leaving to the Play
ground Association the problem of fur
nishing the equipment. The value of
the public playground having been
fully demonstrated by our own expert
ence in Everett, and the legal OBJ
stacles in the way being removed by
supreme court decision, the board in
December, 1913, adopted a resolution
which provided for the gradual equip
ment of public Fairgrounds in connec-
ton with all of the graded schools of
the city. They ordered two main
pieces of apparatus for each ground
excepting the Lincoln, which is located
conveniently near the Central grounds,
and the Garfield, which is provided
with only one piece instead of two
because they had already, through the
enterprise of the Garfield school and
patrons, provided considerable appar
atus. This apparatus has all been in
stalled and play leaders, working
under the direction of principals and
the playground supervisor, have been
appointed for each ground to oversee
and direct he play activities of chill
dren after school hours until dark on
each school day and on Saturdays dur
ing the summer vacation. 1t is the in
tention of the board to provide addi-
tional equipment from time to time on
all these grounds, treating all sections
of the city equally well.
The presence of the apparatus ad-
vertises to the children the presence
of the playground, but a goodly share
of the play activities on these grounds
takes the form of competitive games
and open play. The presence of the
play leaders on each ground will safe
guard children from danger through
reckless use of apparatus, and even
more important will insure proper
conduct and proper language on the
part of all present. We believe that
little wholesome healthy sport in the
open, is good for every boy and girl
and that it will make better men and
women of them than if they had to
play indoors or were compelled to
catch what amusement they could
from alleys and street corners. We
want the people of each community to
feel that the playground is their insti'
tuition and to assist in every way pos
sible in making the conditions right.
The police department is cooperating
in keeping the grounds clear after
hours and people living in the vicinity
of these Fairgrounds can render a
service by reporting to the police de-
partment whenever they find the
grounds being requented after dark
whether it be by children or older
people.
am sending you a copy of the last
report made by Mr.. c. G. Sheldon, VINO
is supervisor of Fairgrounds, which is
as follows:
Report of C. G. Sheldon.
Evarett Wash. June /, 1918.
Mr.. C. r. Frazier City Superintendent
OF Schools
Dear Sir-I take pleasure in submit
ting the following report of the work
under my direction since September l,
1912, to June l, 1913.
Fairgrounds.
The playground of the City OF
Everett have the unique distinction
of being, If not the only one, at least
among the very few that are main
tanned by the Board of Education not
only during school hours but after
school and evening and throughout
the summer as well as when the
schools are in session. The reason
for this is that the superintendent re-
cognlzes the great educational value
of play and that the well directed
playground is a positive force in the
development of character in children
Then too, as the school is concerned
with the physical as well as the
mental and moral life of the child, the