Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-03-06
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The Bee: The last quarter century has
seen great improvements in the schools
OF America. In the same period they
have had 20 meet much criticism. some
OF II Just. but much of Il unjust. because
based on the implied assumption that
the schools are wholly responsible
for the education Of our children and
youth. Education in the true sense-the
fsshionlng OF the body. mind and spirit
into an efficient Individual. depends
upon the home. the school. and the
other factors In community life. The
increase in the oomplexity OF life has
placed increasing burdens on the school.
though the child attends Il only five
or six hours a day about 30 days Of
the Ss5 days. But he Is receiving impress
sions. developing tendencies and habits
In all his waking hours. fifteen or six
teen Of them each day. and the year
round An important part. an increas-
ing part. but only a part of his real
education for efficiency can possibly be
in the hands Of the school.
The home is still the greatest educa-
tonal institution in spite OF its loss OF
influence In many cases. IT ought al
ways TO be 50. because It concerns more
of the time OF the child. affects more
Of it's habits, and can make a more in
innate and effective impress than
can the school The National Bureau
OF Education OF Washington Is putting
much OF it's emphasis on the necessity
OF fostering the influences OF the ira
ditional American household. of rehab-
ilitsting the power OF home life, of edu-
eating men and women to their respon-
sibilities as home makers. home keepers
and home educators.
But home and school together are
long way from covering the educational
problem. and as too often constituted
powerless 70 control e. The time be-
tween the two. the after school hours.
the Saturdays, the summer months-this
uncontrolled segment in the life Of the
young-is a vital factor I'm education that
must be reckoned with. The products
of thousands Of homes and schools have
been mutiiated by t. Whether educa--
ton il more or less efficient depends
largely upon II. The influences of homes
vary, and in some parts Of communities
the effect on children and youth OF
this leisure time becomes greater. be-
cause OF the ineffectiveness OF home life.
In some cases home influence has been
hopelessly lessened. But even where
both homes and schools are OF the best,
there Is often neglect of the common
play Of the children and youth.
The great contribution OF the play
ground and recreation movement in this
country Is that II has demonstrated that
towns and cities can make the neglected
play time and leisure hours an upbuild-
ing. educational and social force. This
has been made possible because people
realize that the kind OF play life. the
leisure conditions. are q community re-
sponsIbliity not within the power Of any
one home 20 control. Organized oppor-
tunities for play and good recreation
furnish 10 children and youth liberty
for the right sort of occupations in
stead of a license which IL without re-
straint, or in place Of no good oppor-
tunities whatever.
II can be readily seen that the use
Of leisure involves both work and play
II Is for this reason that the hundreds
OF cities maintaining recreation systems
consider Fairgrounds. children's gardens
manual training. activities OF Boy
scouts. social pleasures that are profit
able. opportunities for good music. etc.
as part OF the same movement. The play
ground or the recreation center IN
school IL the natural starting place Tor
effective good use OF leisure. Intelli-
rent direction. and organised methoos
On c,oae alliance with home and school
vrlu nroduca leisure time conditions thaL
are v,iem sant and at the Same time real
confirmation to education In it's broadcast
sense. .. n. ANNA-A ..'
suDer4ntednent Of Public Recreation
~, Shavvsa view of the War.
OMAHA. March A-To the Editor OF
rhe Bee: 1 have noticed Ex-Governor
shaws article on "Preparedness' ana
az he is a man OF reputation and ability
1 think Il would be an important means
Of increasing our information and clari-
fytns cur thought to examine closely
some OF hts expressions. am not max
ing an argument on preparedness, out
purpose to call attention to some OF M.
shaw's words respecting the attitude OF
this nation. He says: I'VE are making
no friends and placing no beiiigerent I'M
der Obligation to come to our assistance
when the great day OF reckoning SHAH
arrive"
OF course he does not mean that we
should be so foolish as 60 try TO hold tie
friendship OF both sides by doing tavors
to both. His words imply that we ought
to abandon the purpose OF maintaining
neutrality, and that It is impossible or
impraeticable TO hold q neutral attitude
and retain the friendship and respect OF
the other nations. II all the neutral ma
lions adopted Mr.. Shaws view. all would
become involved in the war. And
this IL the right view. then what the
world needs Is something OF the nature OF
the great deiuge which Is said to have de-
stroyed all the people Of the world except
a few who were saved TO re-populate the
earth. ! guess we must mark Mr.. Shaw
as 9 lingo
believe that In the coming presiden'
tial campaign other issues viii be SID
ordinated. and a great majority OF tho
voters will vote for the candidate who
seems best qualified TO hold the ship OF
state TO a neutral course.
BRRIAH r. COCHRAN.
wooster on Wilson WarniREs.
SILVER CREEK. Neb.. March A.-To
the Editor OF The Bee; Says r. L. Met