Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-05-18
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION iS-
SUES BOOKLET ON REcREA-
TON FOR CHILDREN.
NECESSARY FOR PROPER
DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTHS
People Must Work to Get on in World
and Play 10 Essential to Proper
Work-Governor Clarke, President
Seeriey and Su perintendent Deyoe
Contribute to Valuable Book.
Special to Times-Republican.

Des Moines, May 1S.--"It is a mis-
and idleness are akin. Play is es-
sential as work in the proper develop
ment of child life
This is one Of the statements in the
opening pages of booklet just put
out by the department of public in
struction entitled. Iowa Children and
Communities at Play" The text of the
booklet has been written by Mrs. +. b.
Wilson, of Jefferson, Iowa. In II she
gives many of the plays adapted to
children and young people both for In
door fumes and outdoor There are
also suggestions for outdoor school
pageants.
The Importance OF play not only in
the life of the child but in ali indy i'd
uals is emphasized by contributions
from Governor Clarke, President II. ii.
Seerley of the Iowa teachers college,
and Superintendent of Schools A. NJ.
Deyoe.
Good wholesome play fosters cheer
fulness of disposition, oVercomes IA
tigue of body, promotes health, en-
courages concentration Of effort, re-
lieves tension Of mind, fixes habits,
eniivens the soul and arouses noble
Deyoe. Play, with all its possibilities
in the way of physical beenfts and
moral development may very proper
ly be counted as one of our real educa-
tional resources.
There Is danger that the home life
Of the country child may become too
matter of-fact. IdleneSs and improper
amusements are the bane Of the city
child. Let properly supervised play
activities occupy the chlld's leisure
moments and hours at school and at
homo that there may be less chance for
idleness and for mischief to arise. The
swing, the teeter-board and the Slide
are alike attractive to the country
child and to the city child. The tennis
court the baseball diamond and the
gymnasium will be as much appreci-
ated by our country boys and girls as
by our city boys and girls"
Play as Essential as Work.
Governor Clarke declares that no
one can get on in the world who does
not work. u " just as ess entail also
that one dsvsts some time to play. His
work Will be better done and much
more thoroughly enjoyed because Of
the play. Constant, unremitting work
gradually lessons efficiency. Play re-
stores and increases II Play is amuse-
- ment, It IL recreation. 1t strength
ems and revitaliZes sluggish conditions.
1t gives and retains health 1t In
creases tho Joy OF living. 1t makes
beautiful world still moro beautiful. It
makes a depressed spirit happy. glad.
1t quickens, sharpens. brightens the
intellectual faculties. 1t is essential
to the highest type Of manhood. ply
sically. intellectually and morally
President Seerley points out that
exercise Is not sufficient unless it has
associated with it the influence Of real
recreation. An individual may take the
most active exercise and yet not en-
JOY it enough to make it recreatve Ia
character. Life needs 10 be enjoyed
in order to enable it to be endured as
being active and successful is not SUI
dciens to give the recuperation that
Is essential to a comfortable existence.
1t is for this reason that all work
and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
His spirit needs relief from the
strain and pressure of school work,
farm work, shop work or profess ional
work. Health, happiness. and large
ness depend upon the proper recogni-
ton Of recreation as real factor ID
human development and competency
Mrs. Wilson says that at a child
especially enjoys games involving rep
etition, plays which appeal to his
imagination and furnish impersona-
ton. AT this age the simplest toys and
devices spur his mind on to imaSina-
tive action. A few years later he will
want games that call for courage, en-
durance and other vigorous qualities.
At the age Of II or II characteristics
like the gang spirit" 'Tove for team
work." competitive pride, and many
other important-to manage traits will
appear which. wisely developed, will
be most valuable in business and in
social life.
Iowa at Washington.
Washington, May 10. - President
Wilson appointed long list Of first