The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-03-06
COMMUNITY CENTER
BUREAU Is FORMED
General Extension Division Assists
Schools and Committees.

A school and community center bu-
reau has been established by the gen.
eral extension division of Florida. This
bureau has been created because of the
increasing demand for assistance from
citizens and organizations who realize
the value and necessity of developing
the school house or some other central
place of meeting as a community CEN
ter-a place where people will get to-
gether, where cooperation and good
will viii be born and much profit to
the state will resultant of offering
the proper kind of play and recreation
for children of all ages as well as
adults.
The general extension division is
rendering great assistance along these
lines. The services of a specialist for
advice on public recreation and play
ground equipment is offered free to
interested communities, and teachers
and others are given every necessary
help in becoming local leaders. How
ever, when desired, committees are
encouraged to secure a trained COM
munity leader. This leader must be
a Florida product, since young men
and women can now be secured for
this kind of work. The state dniver-
sity, through it's department of phys
ical education, is training young men
and the State College for Women is
training young women who can be Sc
cured as community leaders in recrea-
ton. These young people must be
given preference by communities de-
string the service offered by the state.
Communities are encouraged to secure
the services of these college graduates
and, if necessary, reduce the cost of a
community leader by using them as
instructors in one or two classes in
the high school during the day. In
teGested communities must pay only
the salary of the local secretary, since
nothing is added to the community
budget for the service which includes
more than just the recreation program
offered by the outside social welfare
agencies in the field. Through the
state program night classes in high
school and college subjects are also
organized and individual correspondence
courses for every one that will help
in business, the trade oI- on the farm
are given and are recognized by the
state schools because tine work is given
as a part of the regular state school
activities.
When a community arranges to have
it's recreation taken cafe of in the
manner described, the community CEN
ter bureau of the general extension di- |
vision lends slides and films for COM |
plete program of education and enter |
tainment through the motion picture |
method In addition, aid is given in |
putting on other kinds of community |
programs and valuable material is |
lent, including plays and recitations I
for adult amateurs, high school chill
dren and the smaller children. Teach |
ers and leaders are also lent books on
news games and plays given all the up
to date suggestions for making this |
part of the school and community rec
reation program most interesting. They |
are also furnished with story books for
children and all grades and are lent |
magazines that are valua
BILE to them in their profession.
The open forum where questions on
interests can be discussed
is also encouraged Assistance in or
ganizing forums is given and material
for discussion and information on all
subjects that may be of interest or
profit to individuals or communities
Is furnished.
The work along these lines shows
lp very well indeed in the first annual
report of the general extension divi-
sion. submitted to the board of con-
.trol. 1t shows that assistance has
been given to large and small COM
nunities alike and the full time recre-
ational director is in demand. ANY
may secure the assistance
IF the school and community center
bureau of the general extension divi-
sion upon request.