The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-10-03
PENSACOLA AND THE CHILD.

SbdtCs WhiSIl u lIl6Iu Is DeSL lltL60 1OT
the rearing of family of children.
This contest will come to an end on
November Is, and one of the Rotary
clubs of Oklahoma has offered a prize
of $4,000 to the winning city.
The Herald says: In contest of
that kind in Florida, supposing that
the people could be reused to it's value
and Importance, what would Miami
have to offer In hte way of achieve
ment over other cities In the state
and how nearly would it come to
winning prize for the best average
1--WE may well ask ourselves, living
as we do in one of the most progress
i've cities of the state, what have we to
offer in the way of better schools than,
say, Gainesville, Orlando, DeLand, ST.
Petersburg or Tallahassee? In what do
we rival ampa, Jacksonville or Pensa-
cola in city parks What have we TO
offer over other numberless towns of
Florida in the way of especial welfare
work for children. in Fairgrounds, in
religious instruction and better hous-
ing?
These areb searching questions and
their honest answer might not be en-
tirely soothing to our pride of place
and position, but honest researches in
to these vital subjects might open our
eyes to our shortcomings"
This is an interesting question for
every city in Florida to consider, and
is in line with the civic awakening
which has come and will increase as
men and women work together for
better social and industrial environ
ment
The Journal believes that Pensacola
would make very good showing in
such a contest. But much could be
learned from comparison with other
cities, and the stimulus which would
come from such comparison.
The showing which is to be made by
the contesting Oklahoma cities is
based on their playground facilities;
the condition and extent of the city
parks; industrial conditions; the
schools, their management, equipment
and contact with the community;
methods of instruction, management
of athletics, number of teachers and
their salaries; health possibilities
moral safeguards; opportunities for
social life; religious organization for
child welfare and housing.
In some of these tests, Pensacola
would show up well; in other possibly
there would be a comparatively low
rating.
Taking the tests one at a time, all
of which are of course on the basis of
the opportunities for the child, we find
much that is encouraging. Taking the
points in order:
The playground work of Pensacola
has been mentioned by the National
Community Service as unusually COM
plete in its-scope, and on a recent
visit to this city, Kenneth Widdemer,
one of the directors of Community
work in the Bowling Green section Of
New City, and a lecturere on Com
munity Service work at Columbia Uni
versity, declared that this is the only
city in the country which takes the
playground work direct to the child
This is because the playground ia
cilities of Pensacola are unusually
adequate, and also by reason of the
interest which has been aroused in
child welfare, which extends here over
number of years, the Playground
work of this city having been inaugu-
rated here more than a decade ago.
The playground work of any city,
and its parkways are closely associat-
ed. Pensacola is fortunate in having
twenty one public parks. including the
historic Plaza Ferdinand, and the sum-
mer recreation centre at Bayview.
These parks are delightful Fairgrounds
for the children, as well as forming
a series of open spaces which lend :
themselves to ornamentation of the |
city. In the use of its public parks. |
Pensacola has long since dropped the
old custom of confirming these parks to
the cultivation of beauty spots, and
most of them are open to the children
at all times. There are playground |
centres in every part of the city, con-
Quoted under the auspices of the Pen
sacola Community Service, and the /
East Hill Playground with its base
ball diamond and tennis courts make |
splendid social centre for the older
boys and girls of the city.
The industrial conditions in Pensa- |
cola are good. There are several fac
tors which contribute to this, one of
which is that the chief industrialI
plants are located near good schools, |
and that the leading plants have well
fare centres.
Taking the schools as they are to-
day, we must also consider in our
summing up what we are actively do
ing at the present time to increase
our educational advantages for the
future. We have been able to secure |
good teaching staffs for our schools
because, through a subtax district, |
we have raised money enough to pay
the teachers a living wage, and through |
a 100000 bond issue have assured
better school facilities, not only for
the older boys and girls. but for the
grammar grades.
The contact Of the schools with the |
community Is excellent. for Pensacola |
claims to have the largest and best
association of Parents Teachers in |
the state The Journal believes that |