Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-09
Public School Houses
As Social Centers
I'm. EDWARD ". sTTTT,

ters. and account Of some Of the work there
may be OF assistance In communities where the mat
ter has been given less attention Many OF the mol
ern school buildings have Fairgrounds the first
floor which by the installation simple apparatus
become available gymnasums. The ceilings are sui.
hcenuy high to permit the playing Of basket ball,
which game appeals 20 many because OF Its team
spirit. its combination Of running and throwing.
quick motion necessary 10 shoot the goals, and tho
general spirit OF cooperation without which team
can win many Trained gymnasts pro
vded teachers and systematic instruction Is given
all who desire regular gymnastic drill. There IL no
roll Of attendance. 20 that men feel free TO como
and go when they please In centers young
men who are preparing for the physical tests
qured OF applicants for the police and fire depart.
ments receive regular instruction with heavy dumb
DEUS IN jumping, running and other tests required
Is II not a happy for the future that the gym
nasiums in our recreation centers training the
physical powers Of the who will patrol
streets, at night. and Of those who Will guard our
city from the danger Of fire?
For those who do not wish the activity required
IN the gymnasium. a game and library room il pro
vided. The most popular magazines kept on file
and small library Of selected books IL always al
hand The habit Of reading H. therefore, encouraged
and the teachers report gratifying Improvement in
hs literary taste OF the readers There no longer
requests for books OF the Jesse James or Dead.
wood Dick order, but instead readers are enjoying
the work OF Dickens. Stevenson. Scott. Churchill
Miss Alcott. Mrs Kate Douglas wiEgin-Riggs ana
other authors whose works make a sympathetic APP
peal 70 the tired tolers enlist their interests ana
encourage their ambitions There are Of coursa
many men and women who are too tired even IA
read For them provision has been made in the form
OF quiet games such checkers chess, dominoes
parcheesi lotto. anagrams. authors finch, halma
ana the like tournaments arranged to stimulate
INTEREST Those who attend the centers are encour.
aged not to play the same game all the time hut
10 secure the charm OF variety by learning new ones
In addition to the foregoing attractions definite
attempts have been made to interest young people
In music Capable teachers have been provided ana
some progress has been made in encouraging those
VINO stes1' not only to love good music but 20
create II as we'll recently heard one Of theee
singing casses-ali adults. and numbering almost n
hundred-give most creditable rendition in three
part singing Of The Lord Is My Shepherd" The
delight they took IN the music their evident entbr
sasm and their serious spirit were of course isrpel,
que to the capable teacher who directed the chorus
During the past year there were $50 school oiubs
IN operation in New York included in the following
classes; Athletic literary. social dramatic musical
civic, parents phiianthropc, Boy Scouts and Camn
Fire Girls The variety OF the interest thus offered
gave an opportunity to all TO Join one or more
OF the clubs and principals Of schools strongly urge
CLUB membership as one OF the great privileges at
forded by our centers Many Of the clubs have PEN
nants banners. pins and other insignia OF their Or
saniEations and a 5ustifiable amount of pride IL
exhibited in maintaining high standards of member
ship The clubs select their officers and have
regularly adopted constitutions and bylaws by which
they are governed. Some OF the literary clubs hav.
excellent debating teams and in all OF the effort
is made TO encourage public speaking The debates
limited 70 matters of current interest municipal
Improvement and state national legislation
Perhaps no feature of our centers has more oppor-
tuntes for social betterment than the mixed dancing
classes The evils OF the lower order OF dance halls
have been largely reduced by permitting young men
and to enjoy social dancing in our public
school buildings. Promscuous dancing is however
not allowed
School houses could be used everywhere in the
following ways:
buildings should DO used for concerts lectures and
entertainments.
Moving picture shows should be conducted. the
choice Of films being carefully regulated by the school
authorities.
9 Social dancing, at least once a week. should be
permitted in most school buildings
4. The cellars OF many buildings are waste places
in which bowling alleys and handbail courts could be
constructed.
s. shower baths are a great necessity and they
be installed at little expense in schools
Cleanliness is next TO godliness"
The cooking rooms OF day schools should
be used at night for lessons to mothers in simple
dietary cookinig and household economy.
T. In thousands of kndergarten rooms throughout
many cities the piano Is used after 3 D m
An inspiring teacher should be employed at night
TO use this instrument In directing slse clubs and
choral singing.
s. The workshops of schools could be used at
night in teaching how to repair
and to use the simple tools OF the carpenter.
Consolidation OF small schools will help for
social betterment. One modern building take the
place OF sevefai small outlying schools will fur
nish opportunity at night for and recreation
10 Civic GATHERINGS should be encouraged The
auditorium OF school buildings n a better place
political debates and municipal discussions than
saloons street corners.
II. In outlying school buildings there Is often
a vacant room. This should be ussd az night as
game library and reading room.
n Hundreds OF clubs OF young people
ing behing saloons. Social service demands
that the class rooms OF school buildings be used at
night club rooms
IS Many young women have proper place in
which receive their male friends In the recreation
center Of the Manhattan trade school. New York
demonstrated how the school building may be used
for this purpose
"a At little expense for light and heat. indoor
Fairgrounds OF school buildings may equipped as
symnasiums for and
rs The school buildings OF the United States
worth over billion dollars To these only for
five hours a day is economic Therefore.
urge that wider OF our school plant is busi-
ness proposition which viii be OF the highest value
in accomplishing the social Improvement OF the
Tmioa Told Tales