The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-07
The Beginning Of The Re-
creation Movement In US.

|snaping children's minds and char
ac;crs by scheme of adult derising
Ne believe. some of us. that only as
a child uses his normal abilities to
the utmost today will he be fitted for
the needs and deeds of tomorrow; so.
10 quote the thought CT Prof Merriam
Of Missouri. Education should con-
sist in helping children to perform
better those activities in which thev
normally engage. Tis the germ OF
the playground movement
pr. Dewey's How We Think. has
proven, beyond a peradyenture. that
the only thinking of value which W.
do is in solving problems, and th
most valuable is that done in solving
rrol lens of our Cwn proposing or
those set by the force OF circum-
staHce The problems arising en- the
playground, because Of his intense
inicIest in them. cause the child to
use all his powers of thought. Have
We amy realization OF how many
kinds of problems do present them
selves 10 the community of the play
ground problems in self control
adaptation. cooperation? Ii is life
in miniature cunningly devised. i
woIld seem, by the good God lcn-
before the day of the playground di-
rector. to fit his little ones for com
plete living. And how slow we have
been TO understand this instinct OF
rlay. how We have repressed II. be-
frIdged time for it, failing 10 SEE
that II is enc OF the Fathers best
gifts.
Said Mrs. C., W. Hetherington in
an address before the y. E. A held
IN New York last summer, PLAY i
'he essential expression of child ma
ture and the source Of child deyelop.
ment. and real educational leader.
snip is fundamentally leadership q,
pas-the most serious activity OF
child life. In the past the home wo.
'he center OF life and experience
Inc majority of homes were not onI,
'he centers Of family life but indus
lriai and social centers as we'll ,,r
in'shing large opportunity .or ~
chhd to see and Participate in q,
'he essential human activi,ios tn
.y took from the home both IN,
industrial occupation and tho mn
chinery OF manufacture with .,
4 'hcir stimulus and opportunity 70,
chiid activity Hence the functio,
ana the size of the home have con.
tracied. Moreover the size Of m
'amiiy has decreased, leaving chill.
dren not only without generous nm.
ie''uhity for activity, but withou,
even the stimulus of an adeon,,,
character-building companionshin
Parents are helpless in their enor,,
10 supply the leadership needed"
ne interest now being taken in
the playground movement is one n,
the signs of the times. The Burea,
o. Education at Washington has is.
sued some bulletins on this subiec,
fom one Of which The Re-orpan
'Yed School Playground" by Henr,
5. Curtis. shall presently read The
husseil Sage Foundation has a De.
nartment + Recreation which nrin,.
books and pamphlets and sends ont
lantern slides free of charge SIido.
are arranged under the foIIowi,o
subjects Vacant lot playgrounds
school Fairgrounds. park nlay
rounds. camps and outings r,rat
recreation, field houses, baths ane
wadsng pools, athletics. festivals anf
celebrations. social centers scboo
ard home gardens. evening schools
s,hoolhouse meetings. CONSTRUCTION
plans. miscellaneous. The Youth,
companion. through its Extensio,
department has issued several hool
lets which give results of ,hrs,
Fairgrounds maintained by the dc
pertinent in three typical communi
ties for nine months each rbere :.
playground and Recreation Asso
c'ation OF America. noted h.,ore
(which nrints IT.