El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-07-31

CcHoOL houses and school grounds belong to all the
- people, and there Is good reason why they should
the sense IN letting 100000 worth OF puoe property
stand idle half the timer Why should not the school houses
and school grounds be used BY the people nights and Sat
urdays and Sundays and holidays and all SUMMER
One reason is that until very recently most school
houses have been built and furnished with thought
provision for maximum The lighting arrangements
commonly deficient for night The screwed down
furniture makes the inconvenent except for the one
as childrens class rooms
But the school plant ought to put to economical
Necessarily there is school house within easy reach
every child That that each school house is the
center Of community Of its Why cannot the school
house become community center with tacles provided
merely for educational extension work. but for social
One reason Why it is SO hard in large city to bring
about needed public improvements is that there ade
quats provision get the people together to talk them
Community spirit not fostered in the smaller sub
divisions Of the city Since the old idea Of neghborness
has been lost there is nothing to take its place
Occasionally there is found church which tries to
supply this need, That is good far It goes But
church work rarely goes outside the membership OF the
affiliated religious body Great of people who have
church affiation find community center open to
them Comparatively few engage IN the larger city
meuts result is that potential energies not
used; powerful human forces 90 to waste
In e Paso there the greatest need for modeny
gained community centers IN the sections where Spanish
speaking people in the majority The value Of such
work lettering the lot Of the fecansH opening their
lives TO the best American influences, and inspiring them
with progressive ideals and the desire for self Improvement
cannot be overestimated.
We provide good schooling for the Spanish speaking
children the ordinary school system but what
doing for those beyond the compulsory school age7
What are doing for the grown and women who
here By the tens Of thousands and who important
economic element IN the city?
This is only one phase Of the problem What are we
doing to welcome the new oomers 10 snthuse them with
the FL Paso spirit to enrol them in the lists Of hearty
workers for common betterment?
A city Ike Fl Paso is really aggregation Of COM
unes but It doesn't realize it. Deep down in the hearts
Of all there Is certain feeling OF loyal interest IN our
part Of town, street, own block But we
find place opportunity Of expression exchange OF
views People nay i've IN the block for years and
know one another's Yet they have common
interests.
In some cities the idea Of school house community
tiers has taken firm hold Ths buildings made to fit
the need The Fairgrounds fitted up and used The
little community within the larger community is organized
and becomes real democracy better spirit developed
and the whole city is benefited
In Washington city last year. 70 such community
operating The attendance 100000 persons
This project had beer talked about for long time But
the necessities Of the work brought It to life Every
phase OF done IN the year 1e171s and the
service Of the community centers was especially welcome
70 the soldiers Of the vicinity. But the work developed
broadly and the permanent residents not only took hold
Of Il ana managed suc1es-uly Du eney sn9"so nat
they appreciated the efforts thar being made to meet
q real need that had long existed
In Washington the board Of education pays the cost
keeping the school houses open heating and lighting
them outside Of the regular school hours for by al
the people The school houses that have been designated
this service really the club houses Of their neigh
women, and children Of the neghborhood community.
Once year the people Of each neghbo1hood community
meet and elect to be secretary and man
sger Of the club OF community center This person paid
By the school board The system Is simple enough; it is
supervised by school board through general secretary
Of community centers.
The school board meets the essential costs But in most
eases the club members OF class members employ and pay
additional personnel such as teachers for special classes
musicians and Entertainments are
provided both by the school board and BY the initiative Of
the community club members themselves The plan Is very
democratic and everybody finds ample scope for his par
ticular interests.
Mere mention Of the varied activities Of the Washington
community celters VIII suggest how useful and how neces
sa-y they are Aside from the meetings Of citizens asso
cations and parsntteacher associations the activities have
included community buying clubs Red Cross units boy and
grl Scout troops state clubs (soehng that would be
popular in Fl Paso tOo) good government clubs the estab
fishing Of branch postofces; classes IN mathematics de
nal filing systems many different languages domestic
science domestic arts hair dressing, canning dancing
dramstics, swimming gymnastics, choral singing Of
babies and motherhood business branches autobiography