Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-01-14
Tssshlns Chu6vsa 70 pay.

CheGtaf couA&v, rA., has engaged N
expert ~ . salary Of u, 900 ysAi 70 teach
tAs shildrsA a ths larger towns how to
plav. R4saaAlsoAi esAAres havs bssn
NAblishad and NE h operation In West
Chester, Ksnnstt Square, Oxford, Coates
v1ls and Phnnixvills, but thsy havr not
ben - largely utilised ~ w~s expected,
~ In addition 10 providing Grcunds for tho
ohildrsn, they srp also TO bs taught at the
cosnty's expense how to play.
II seems almost incrcdiblo that tho
boys And girls of today beve lrcosnc %
blass that even play has INCOME stale and
uninterestng unless Il has m scsdsmic
origin and II systematically taught by 4
hixhly~paid and skilled instructor And
ono Ii led 10 wonder what hes become OF
tho old-tims gsmcs that once delighted
school children. Perhaps the infants OF
Ave or six have ousxrown Ring Around
the Rossy" or "Blind Man's Bluff" or the
larger boys may havc found "Duck on
Davey" little too rough and lacking in
cultural qualities, and possibly bsve de-
tcrmined that ri Spy il q bit too bolster
OTIS, and plugging tops OF shohtina marbles
may have boon barred out a. common
place. Tho girls may have been taught
that rope e-ju,nping and Drop tho Hand
kerclief" are too "tomboyish, " or Heavy,
Heavy What Hang, over7" too senti-
mental and inane; but II il hard TO be-
lieve that tho newer and professionally
tagged diversions cnn offer greater fun of
more wholesome esersiee for the young
st.rs than did those homely ssnuse,nen's
induiscd In by their untaught forheays.
Possibly In the earlier day. the youths
rest for playing was not buntsd ny over
indulgence. IL wss exceptional II be
played 80 much that he became sasiatcd
with those good old ganes Play formerly
consumed only part Of the boys or girls
period Of freedom from school The other
portion wss devoted 60 some form Of light
duty. usunlly kind Of work that was
useful IN teaching the Young people some
practical knowledge that constituted the
primary steps in the preparatory course
towards making livelihood in lstef wears.
The houfs Of work were not lonr not, as \
rule, was the task bard, but the esUrienoe
was held essential in giving the lad or less
some understanding of problers that
would confront them later in lie, THIS
little experience part play and part
work with the practical aide of life IN
failingly stimulated kesner sense oi en-
joyment in the games; and we all can
recall the joyous animation of groips OF
schocl children as they romped-thoush
untS,Qht except by one another--at the
noon hour or during the recess periods.
Those who have studied tho problem OF
recreation declare they have found the
play teacher method is far preferable tn
the former way, end that the shmes under
direction cf an instructor are great i'm
provement over The old-tima diversions
| also that the presence aud moral influence
! Of the teacher IL ~ great benefit IN an up-
| lifting sense, especially in coninunitie.
made up Of all classes, including many
/ aliens However that may be, we canno'
escape the conviction that the hoys and
girls who devoted their time on. Of schoo
partl, at some light .ssk, and the reat a.
some & ood, robust play. ono requirins
action. tending co excitement or laughter
and kept the children in the crisp ai
until their cheeks glnwed or in numme
ept them ont doors 70 pcrtrire very freely
unfailinsly developed them into radiant
strong healthy, wholesome men ans
women II was rare, as We recall It, tha
these old-time rougher play games pro
| tiuced ''rnollvcoddle' or such like anS
one may assert from remembrance, though
not without fear of contradiction, that the
| division Of the recreation hours between
lish, work and hard play produced men
and women possibly better equipped
| If VIC dare say so-thnn do the method
in vogue these more progressive days.