The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-04-13
Miss Crowley Gives
 Expression Of Views
 At Crime ( Conference
Were Permitted More Freedom in Selection of De- sired Amusement Claims Local Probation Officer

A plea TOT recreatlon that IS less organized and more individual was made yesterday by Miss Kathleen Crowley of this city as she address ed the crime conference at the Connecticut Council of Social Work. Miss Crowley. director of the Waterbury Girls club and juvenile probation officer. declared herself entirely opposed to ma chine-like and ra-systemattc play and recreation.
 In a brief speech that ran coun- ter in sentiment to most of the recreational philosophy of the day, Miss Crowley made a determined plea for less regimentation Of recreation. She urged that those in search of play be left alone, to do as they saw fit in the way they saw fit.
 Miss Crowley's address of yes terday follows: ~gr
 No Experimentation
 It is not, in my oninion, the business of Recrea tions to stand like a sentinel and say to the passerby, "Thus far and no far ther." Those of us who have been working in this field over long period of time have seen aims and objectives change almost with the wind. To some this may mean progress. It is not, rather, a con- fession that we cannot regiment satisfactorily the leisure time of the average man or woman-boy or girl.
 Today we are attempting to face frankly the question what Is wrong with recreation? This Is well pro- viding that we face the issue hon. estly, attempt to understand 1t and broaden our perspective.
 It does not seem to me that any bne should feel that he is the Lords anointed insofar as telling people what they ought to do with their leisure time. I believe that people should be permitted to plan their own recreation and amuse themselves in any way that does not interfere with the peace and comfort of others. r.a. e, y-a
 The woeful lack of training and background of many socalled rec reational directors is another thing that leaves room for improvement.
 Private recreation is aping the ways and manners of commercial recreation and losing the one hold it had for education and training l.. worthwhile habits and attitudes which in the case of the young should carry over into every day life.
 Fairgrounds
 pnnnaatinp iS fnn IriOh1v nr0on. ized. Those of us who have ob- acquainted with the picture of an almost deserted well-equipped playground and within block hundreds of children are playing their own games and having a lot of fun while doing so. Fairgrounds have become centers for anything and everything except play.
 One of the most amazing dis coveries I ever made came through the statement of boy who has outgrown his playground days but remembers very wildly why the playground could count him among those present for but a small percentage of the summer days.
 Speaking of recreation reminds me. I used to make darts from horshoe nails which we stole from the blacksmith. Then we stuck the nails through a big cork and balanced it with a chicken feather. We threw these home made darts at poles, fences, etc. Boys no longer seem to make up their own games.
 once we played Hill-Dill, the toughest and toughest game have ever seen. One boy stood in the middle of the lot. He shout ed "Hill-Dill". The boys all rushed him. Football style. The man who was hit had to tackle one of the rushers, but can you imagine his chance when there was often twenty boys rushing at