Evening star., 1941-02-11
ID. T.. Recreation
May Emphasize
Clubs in Future
Eosier Supervision
Is Cited in Favor
Of New Plan

Administration OF recreation in
Washington may be organized more
and more on group. or club basis,
it was indicated today at the fourth
monthly recreation discussion forum
of the year at the Jewish Com
munity Center.
Forums on recreation, held under
sponsorship of the District Com
munity Center and Playground De-
partment, the District w. P. A. and
the Council of Social Agencies,
actually have been held each Tues
day since November s. However,
discussion and panel sessions are
scheduled only on the first Tuesday
of each month. The other meetings
are laboratory forums, where
methods of play leadership and in
struction in recreational technique
are stressed.
Central question before today's
forum was the problem of organ
izing recreational activities on club
basis rather than on an individual,
go-as-you-please basis.
New Yorker Is Speaker.
Charles B. Crawford, assistant
superintendent OF the WeStcheSter
County IN. " Recreation Commis-
sion was principal speaker. He told
an audience of more than $50 recre-
alton leaders that the club method
is preferable, provided it does not
become so inflexible that more time
is spent in organizing and conduct
ing the club than is spent on the
activities for which the club is
formed
He said he favored central clubs,
including both boys and girls, in
each play area and community CEN
ter in the citys system. From the
central club. he said, small groups
could branch out for diverse activi-
ties. such as drama. athletics, handi-
craft, music, dancing, stamp collec-
ting etc. Through dues, such small
groups could overcome the financial
structures placed upon officials ad-
ministering recreation, he said.
Such clubs. he continued. would
make it easier for professional play
supervisors to exert indirect control
over activities; preferable to the
direct method.
Indoor Winter Activities.
Members of the community Center
and Playground Department pointed
out that Washington community
centers. which conduct indoor winter
activities. are organized on a club
basis. with the emphasis on boys
clubs rather than Conversational "a
parallel term for co-education)
groups.
Outdoor activities of the local
agency. they said. however, are still
conducted on stage setting
basis-the term used by recreation
professionals to signify direct plan
ming of activities by supervisors and
go as you please or individualistic
participation by those using play
facilities.
The consensus OF the forum. as
revealed by discussion by the panel
and from the floor. was that the
club system is preferable and should
be applied to all activities, although
caution should be taken not 10
exclude the individual and to retain
the highest possible degree of
flexibility
The discussion panel for today's
forum was made up of Mrs. Clarice
Smith of the Community Center and
Playground Department: Sylvester
Hall, colored, of the same agency;
Miss Ruth Atwell of George WASH
ington University; Miss Lydia Burk-
lin of Friendship House; Miss
Russell Lightfoot. Colored, of the
Community Center and Playground
Department and Miss Lois Judge
of the same agency.
Miss Sibyl Baker. director of COM
munity centers for the Community
Center and Playground Department,
presided.