Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-20
URGES LARGER
FAIRGROUNDS
FOR SCHOOLS
Superintendent John P. Gar
Der Points to Need of Re-
lieving Starvation
OLD METHODS OBSOLETE
Plans to Give Children 80 to 40
Feet of Space in New
Buildings

The recreation facilities Of the public
school children in this city are still suffering
from the condition Of starvation" caused
BY the financial situation prior TO 1911 ac-
cording to announcement made today by
Superintendent John p CARRIER.
There are sixty-one schools in Philadel-
phia with less than ten square feet Of play
ground per pupil one school has but one
and nineteenth square feet for each child.
This is the Florence School. Eighth and
Catharine streets.
E. In the building Of new schools II Is
planned TO give each child between thirty
and forty feet of playground space In this
way ample recreation facilities can he fur
nshed. II is universally recognized now
that play forms important part in the
education Of a child. One Of the functions
of the modern school is to act as a nursery
or play center for the pupils, thus keeping
them off the streets. Such a view has been
30 firmly established that many parents OBJ
Ject to the necessity Of having their chill
dren on part time on this account rather
than on the grounds Of their not receiving
the proper instruction
II is the old schools. those built a gem
Grafton ago. before the advent OF modern
scientific educational methods. that feel
most sorely this lack OF Fairgrounds. The
Campbell school, Eighth and Fitzwater
streets. with 1900 pupils, had no play
ground until few months ago The Board
OF Education purchased a property OF
10000 square feet adjoining the school,
During the summer this has been con-
verted into a playground. 1t gives each
pupil slightly more than six and a half
square feet.
OLD METHODS OBSOLETE
'erhe old idea in education was to teach
the children the three RS and let II go
- fV.aW.F rtWaN
part of school work unknown TO our
educators of a generation ago said Asso-
ciate Superintendent Albert H. Raub in
commenting upon this situation. Com
sequently the school buildings of nifty years
ago had no facilities for play. II there
happened to be some ground left over after
the school built well and good. NO
provision was made for Fairgrounds"
1--WE are doing the best we can to relieve
this condition of Inadequate Fairgrounds"
Doctor CARRIER said. We have a ground
plan OF every school in the city. As finan-
cial conditions permit. We purchase prop
erty near the schools lacking proper tacil-
ities and use them for recreative pur-
poses
"Prior to 1911 the Board OF Education
had 20 go to City Councils for appropria-
tons This system resulted i'm the starry
iaR of the school system in many respects.
II was dificult to get the money to make
the necessary improvements. In 1911 the
Board Of Educa tion was made independent
of Councils and took over its own imam
cial affairs. Since that time we have been
striving to overcome the lack Of play facili-
ties We can do so only as the condition
of the treasury will permit, however. 1t
is slow work.
'It is my opinion that provision should
be made to set aside a certain sum each
year for this purpose. We are doing the
best we can under the circumstances. This
Is one Of the things making rise in the
tax rate necessary. There is no money
available for enlarging Fairgrounds at the
present time In addition to the enormous
Increase in the cost Of building and operat-
ing our schools an agitation for an in
crease in teachers salaries is on foot. We
have recently raised the salaries OF many
of our clerical assistants.
Under the present law the Board Of
Education can fix the school tax at six
mills To go above this rate an act of
Assembly is necessary. Many OF our old
schools have been converted in such a way
as to make them satisfactory for present
day use. Many more need remodeling, as
well as increased recreative facilities"
RECREATION PERIODS
Except for a short time each day. al the
children Of a school do not use the play
ground at the same time, Superintendent
CARRIER pointed out The usual custom is to
have two recreations, in each Of which
ha.f the School participates. Where the
grounds are particularly limited, three
recreation periods are arranged. During
rainy weather the recreation is held IN tho
basement of the school
When asked IL the increasing OF the rec
reatlon facilities and the lengthening Of the
school day would not increase the Capaci-
ties OF the schools, Doctor CARRIER said:
This would not increase the capacities
OF the schools. II is but one part OF the
facilities needed TO effect an incre lse. In
aedition TO larger Fairgrounds and a longer
day, we would have TO have auditorium and
gymnasium facilities"