Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-28

He thought the children would not go
there IL 1t Svere not for the play
grounds he told Attorney Browning.
He did not know why but Chief STAN
swings and see saws and other appar-
atus. Some of the children don't know
the difference between Saturday and
Monday, he said. John NJ Lee OF the
Fairgrounds association stated that
the swings are taken in and the see
saws locked after play hours. Chief
stanton then said q six foot fence
around the yard wouldn't relieve the
trouble. the children would get in just
the same. He urged finding a diff
Ierent place for the Fairgrounds on
the West Side as well as In other
parts Of the city. Thamesville he
thought was abandoned primarily on
account or the nuisance. He couldn't
understand while Fairgrounds had
10 be furnished children today any
movement ought not to be saddled on
10 the board Of education
Mrs. Evelyn B. Lamb asserted that
the nuisance starts at o'clock in the
morning and lasts 10 or IL hours q
day. Vile language is spoken under
her windows and she thought that aft
limit.
Small Children saucy.
Mrs. Augustus Gould said that she
had lived opposite the school for ten
years. She had seen scarcely any
oody at the school playing on Sum
day until the playground was estab-
Iished. Many of the tots would be
better off at home in their mothers
care; She said that even the small
language and do indecent things. In
reply to query from Mr.. Browning,
Mrs. Gould said that the children were
saucy enough at all times and she
couldn't tell whether they were worse
now than in term time
Mrs. F. P Church stated that she
had lived there for rs years and that
| she was in favor of putting an end
to the playground.
Association President Speake,
John B. Stanton said that he spoke
as president of the Playground asso-
citation but not as UNFOLDING a single
bit OF the wrong the children do. He
indecent language on the part Of little
children is objectionable. Yet they
do not grasp the meaning of what they
| are saying and he asked where they
got their vocabulary.
President Stanton said he had had
his hand In trying to correct faults.
He had seen children racing around
Mr.. Pratt's house nd he wouldn't
blame Mr.. Pratt for doing anything
reasonable. or at times a little unreal
| sonable. He used to live there and he
had had a hand also in trying to save
Mr.. Woodmansee's apples. But long
before the Fairgrounds he used to
see boys come along and club the
apples down.
Primarily For Little Children.
When the association asked for per-
! mission to use the school grounds, 1t
way asked promarily for little chill
| dren. There was no money to pur-
1 n cd On, he Ia 1T
Chief Stanton burned off. there was
not a tree nor a brush and it was
out of the way. There was no SUI
pervision the first season, but notices
We're put up restricting the grounds to
children under IL. The school COM
mitteo gave permission gladly to use
| the school yards.
The Thamesville yard was under a
hill. hot and not suitable. There was
| an objection to older boys who on their
way to and from swimming at Cold
| Spring, did mischief there. Mr..
| Stanton urged the Importance of car
ing for the large number Of little chill
| dren, while the association needs a
place for the older boys to play ball
Mr.. Stanton told Mr.. Browning that II
all the school yards were shut up it
| would seriously cripple the playground
move1ent- The toilets and the drink
| ing water at schools make them de-
sirable as Fairgrounds. He said that
| in other cities the playground move
ment has passed experimental stage
and is filling a great want and the
school yards are used. In New Lon
| don they use the school yards.
Chairman Murphy thought the dis
| cussion should be confined to Pearl
street, but Attorney Browning con-
| sidered that the condemnation of
this ground might lead to the end OF
the playground movement in this city
| and Attorney 7. J. Kelly supported
him in extending the limits OF discus
/ sion.
No Intention Of Maintaining Nuisance
Treasurer John NJ. Lee Of the Play
ground association told how the move
| ment started. 1t was not the inten-
to maintain nuisance. The object
was to provide recreation for children
| not over IL. The trouble was found
| to come from the older children. II
was unfair, he said to hold the play
ground movement responsible for what
| would occur otherwise.
Regulation, Not Adjustment.
The children who use the playground
| are the children OF the taxpayers who
provide the school and he was for
regulation and not adjustment. There
/ are no funds for other grounds OF
facilities. Wherever Fairgrounds have
been started. he said, they generally
i AdNO OSCH turned over 10 the SCnOO
board, for the reason that they can
best provide the facilities.
Supervisor Saw Little to Complain OF
Miss Mary F. Mckay, supervisor OF
the Fairgrounds, stated that she visits
each ground every day and at different
times each visit, so that the children
do not know when she is coming. She
has found everything orderly and
quiet at Pearl street considering the
number OF children. Care had beer
taken in choosing supervisors who
know how to handle children. She had
heard 10 vile language or anything
OF the sort. The only damage had
been broken windows and these had
been paid for. It was an easy mat.
ter to Ndispiace pickets from tht
fence, and she said that some Of the
neighhors had removed them to max,
short cut, and others were taker
down by their children. Ball playinl
is not allowed and while big boys havI
come to play croquet, II they are dis.
orderly, they are asked to leave. Mis-
Mckay replied to a question by Mr.
Lamb that she sometimes spent hal
an hour or an hour or even half
morning or afternoon at the grounds
There are from 80 to 30 children Their,
at q time. she told DR.. p. ]. Cassi
| du