Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-06-03
HONOLULU Children TO HAVE VACATION GROUND
FOR PLAY, RECREATION AND WHOLESOME ACTIVITY
Something of the Plans Sue
cesSfuI Elsewhere to BE
Worked Out at KaiulanI
School This Summer
BY MARY T. MOORE.

BY MARY !. mOOhE.
The vacation school movement orig
- mated In the desire of citizens TO pro
vide other influences than those Of
the streets for children during July
and August and reveal TO them new
and beautiful world through songs and
dainty devices, through flowers and
play which their child-like hearts
crave. During the summer. when pub
lie schools are closed children are sX-
posed, especially in cities. TO peculiar
dangers; denied a recreation ground
they find enjoyment in the streets and
are exposed to accidents OF traffic.
Idleness opens the way TO mischief,
exposure to heat and dirt Injuries the
health: If confined at home there are
domestic conflicts and occasions of
irritations. When the schools open in
the fall, children have forgotten much
of what they had learned. and have
acquired habits of Tudeness and dis
order which binders the school work
and discipline. The joyous and in
MIGRATING exercise in the open air un-
: der the genial and wise companion
ship of a skiiful teacher, opens the
soul to the beauty and glory of ma
ture, the hands become skilful in
simple, primitive acts and the deVel-
opment of the moral disposition of the
child or youth is the reward. .@
The method Of vacation schools is
based on these principles. Attendance
is voluntary, plays are both free and
directed, though all are arranged with
reference to physical development,
quickening OF desirable interest and.
cultivation OF social spirit Of coop
Grafton: ...-.... ~
Experin1e nts At First. 49,. -. 4.
At first these schools were estab.
lished as an experiment by private
associations and supported by indi-
yidual gifts, but they have so clearly
demonstrated their high value that,
the boards Of education have accepted
them in many cities as part of their
regular work. In addition, in con-
siderable number of cities the church
es opened their parish rooms to re-
ceive children during vacations and
have provided shelter and recreation.
The first vacation school in Amer
lea Of which there is any record was
held in 1866 under the auspices of the
First Church of Boston. 1t was in no
way connected with the public schools
Of that city. The first municipal
board of education to incorporate. va
cation schools as part of its system
was that of Newark, where they were
established in 1885. Vacation schools
were established in Cleveland in 1895.
under the auspices of the Ladies' Aid
Society of the Old Stone church. In
Milwaukee some public spirited and
philanthropic women began by obtain
ing the use of one of the public school
buildings. They employed teachers
and held classes for six weeks. In
1904 the board of school directors, i'm
pressed by the value of this instruc-
ton, assumed the responsibility. In
Worcester their success is due largely
to,the cooperation of the merchants OF
the city, who make generous dona-
tons of material and supplies. ......
Pitteburq's Experience. 49,. +.
The introduction of vacation schools
and play centers in Pittsburg was due
to the activity OF the Civic Club AS
early as 1896, while looking about for
some needed thing to undertake, it
was impressed by the number of for
lorn homes and crowded streets in
the city and resolved to secure the
use of the school yards for the child
rem who had no place to play. After
the grounds had been secured the as
tonishiRg discovery was made that
most of the children did not now how