Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-12
G,1snlns'0s fvsnins saturday, auTas 136O5
Play Schools Splendid Work.

The opening of outdoor spaces where
children may play and at the same time
be taught how TO play is always red letter
dav among the children of Wilmington, as
il should be for there is no service ex-
tended to them that has so many benefits
attached. Not more important are the
Fairgrounds than are the instruction and
direction as 10 the best employment of
the idle hours of the little ones in sum-
mer. In these days when the cities are 50
eungested. so overfowing with people.
there is little chance for play except
through the opportunities offered by
these public places. Consequently the
children whom the grounds are aimed to
interest most know little of games or
how 60 play and often misapply their out
door hours Of recreation and perhaps IN
stead Of playing engage in quarrels or
games that are either dangerous or not
uplifting.
In every group Of children, too, there
are some youthful bosses or would-be
tyrants. almost harmless. TO be sure, ex-
cept they 50 dominate the others that the
diversion of the children is spoiled; in
stead of acquiring healthful habits and
engaging in divcrting games they are
scoldcd or possibly brought into contact
With ill-mannered profane boys who may
heaven the whole neighborhood group with
his ridencss. Under the Fairgrounds
system the Young children are instructed
in plcasant kindergarten work that keeps
them IN the open and engages their
thoughts and fixes into their minds the
satisfaction that comes from keeping
both the bodies and brain constantly
employed teaching them 70 think In
stead Of the dcsultory play with the fire.
quent interruptions for disputes and for
the settlement. with small and not very
dangerous fists. Of angry chickering's, the
childrcns minds are employed in the solu-
tion Of the wholesome little problems that
are presented by the games and while the
Youngsters are drinking In the fresh dir
and upbmlding their bodies they are
unconsciOusly absorbing lessons in d.scl-
pline. in the polite treatment of one an
other. in developing a bright, sunny dis
position instead Of a quarrelsome temper.
They learn how 20 laugh and be cheerful
and how to keep happy and clean and
bright as we'll as 10 avoid the evil things
they NAV see about them and 10 accept
the good. and TO learn to love the good not
alone because it is good but because good
brings the only real, lasting happiness.
the only pleasure that one can enjoy.
The children Of foreigners here are
greatly benefited by these play schools
They learn The games that interest our
own children, pick up a speaking acquaint- !!
ance with the English tongue more rapidly |
than they might in any other way, and |
learn with deep admiration that America |
is intensely interested in their welfare,
looking after their pleasures and their !
and giving them better homes |
and greater comforts than they have ever
before known
Those teaching the Wilmington chill
dren to play are undertaking highly i'm
portant task and we are sure that they
approach the work with full realization
of It's opportunities and their responsible
ties, as they doubtless do.