El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-10-09
WILL EQUIP
PLAYGROUND
Generous Gift as Memorial
to A. Krakauer Offered
Playground Workers.

Robert Krakauer today offered in
the name Of Mrs A Krakauer, to equip
7 fully on any plans submitted by j. H.
! slime, supervisor Of Fairgrounds, any
, block OF ground designated by the city
/ or the school board as a permanent
playground His proposal was to erect
{ all the mechanical equipment and ap-
paratus necessary to institute a model
playground on an extensive scale, the
Z gift to be in the nature OF a me
mortal TO the late A Krakauer.
The offer was made at a meeting
held at noon in the Sheldon. attended
! by the mayor. members Of the school
I board. the superintendent OF schools,
! the play supervisor. and citizens rep
/ resenting the advisory playground COM
I mittee of the chamber Of commerce
Present were Rev Martin Zielouka,
r. J. Tighe, c. B. Stevens, Robt. Kra-
kauer. Tom Lea, 8. J. Prudential J.
H Slime. r B. OrndOrff Crawford
Harvie, Dr.. ". H. Pickles. H D. Slater
and T. S. Settle. representing the Pay
ground and Recreation association OF
America, who made the recreation sur
vey of the city last winter.
Rabbi Zielonka, chairman OF a spe-
cial committee Of the advisory board,
urged that the recreation department
should be regarded as a permanent d.
vision Of school work hereafter. how
ever the budget might be divided this
year.
Children show Improvement.
Prof Tighe expressed himself as
strongly in favor OF the playground
work and the system now installed ana
spoke OF the Gary system as reialeo 20
outdoor play In Newcastle, IA, salu
he. CHILDREN in schools under the Gary
system were weighed at intervals as
also were children not under the cary
system. ana the first group gained III
weight at more than double the rate
of the second group He. 2scr!oed lhe
better physical condition Of the llIsL
group to their greater number Of hours
outdoors engaged in supervised recrea-
ton. At the same time II was carer u-l4
explained in the meeting that the play
ground system in FL Paso was planned
Independently OF the Gary system
though il has fitted in very well
DR.. Rickels favored the general sys-
TEN OF Fairgrounds but could not com
nit himself as member OF the scnool
board to any definite policy OF financial
support.
{. B. stevens. Of the school board, ad-
mitted that at first he was not enthu-
siastic about the new recreauon sys-
TEN. but had become convinced tnat Il
was good. In other cities il had been
found that there were fewer delin-
quents among children and youth where
there was ample provision for play
Fl PGsO System Commended
Mr.. Settle, who happened TO be visit
ing the city for the first time since
his survey. spoke briefly approving
the new budget and commencing the /
Il PasO system so -ar as II mad Deeh
developed. as one Of the best In the
United States. An opinion in which
he said the New York headquarters ]
Of the national association concurred- :
Robert Krakauer said that Detore
the new system was Installed the I
school grounds were deserted outside 1
Of school recess hour, but now he sees D
as many as 200 children at one time
playing on the school grounds after
school hours and on Saturdays and 3
Nnns1fH
first time, said he, how to play, ana I
they have learned to use the school I
grounds to best advantage.
Mayor Lea said he well understood /
the advantages Of the play system. but F!
that he could not in any way commit |
himself or the city council TO any IL !
nanciai plan at this time. He init [
mated that the city would do its part 4
within its financial ability.
Consolidation Best.
s 7. Prudential Of the school board,
thought that the entire recreation sys-
TEN should be consolidated and that
it ought to go under the school budget
If that department could see its way
clear to finance it. The school board
already has named a committee. said he
10 confer with the mayor and council /
abOU financing the rchools. and the
recreation budget viii naturally come
up for discussion
Supervisor Slime told OF the way !
sports are being promoted among the (
boys and girls. with marked extension I
Of play activities outside Of school Z
hours, especially by promoting com
Detitive sports. When he began. said
he. he found that the boys did not know I
how to play, they had almost no games.
but now they are enthusiastic about Z
the new games they have learned in
group work. Attendance at the summer l
averaged about 500 per
day. He thought the lighting OF the
At night would very
greatly increase their usefulness
President OrndOrff, OF the chamber
OF commerce, expressed himself as
heartily in favor Of continuing the
playground work on comprehensive
scale.
Most Economical Plan. q
Crawford Haryie Of the school board /
favored the present playground sys-
tenn because it makes the school plant
useful for q greater number Of hours
and DAYS in the year. He thought boys
today need to have the old sports re-
rived and new ones introduced. and he
especially thought that something
should be introduced into their lives TO
make up for the old time fishing and
swimming.
H D. Slater Of the special committee |
PRESENTED the appeal of the advisory | ,
board to the effect that the playground J
budget be specially included in the Off
,ial budgets Of the school board and OF :
he mayor, at least with view to Civ /
ng the institution greater stability and
-Ormal recognition as a definite and ,
permanent department Of the public I
service He thought the recreation sys-
e1ss @lOuld be recognized as an integral I
part Of the educational department in Z /
utUre, whatever division Of financial !
,urdens might be necessary this year.
The proposed recreation budget. to ] A
'un from April 1916 TO April 1917 calls
or $4,000 in addition to the salaries
# the play teachers regularly employed
n the schools.
The meeting adjourned without
Z