Albuquerque Morning Journal

EXPERT FAVORS PLAYGROUND FOR SCHOOL PUPILS

Dr. Henry Curtis, Specialist in Child Welfare Work, Addresses Parent-Teachers' Meeting.

(Special Correspondence to The Journal.)

Raton, N. M., Jan. 20.—Wednesday afternoon the Raton Parent-teachers' association held their regular monthly meeting in the high school auditorium.

The chief speaker of the afternoon was Dr. Henry Curtis, a specialist in child welfare and playground work.

Before Dr. Curtis spoke, Mrs. E. Kegel, home service secretary of the Red Cross, spoke briefly on the work which is being done on the east side to supply food for the indigent people, and outlined some of the plans for the future. She criticised the sanitary conditions on the east side, particularly with reference to the Longfellow school, which has no hot water nor inside toilets. The city sewer system does not extend to the east side, thus making it impossible for better conditions in this section.

Julius Kuhnert, director of the department of health education, reported on the work of the ways and means committee. The Red Cross has volunteered to take care of all indigent cases needing medical or surgical attention to the limit of the funds available. The Parent-teachers association will appreciate all voluntary contributions so as to make the work more effective.

The Royal Neighbors have already given a substantial sum without solicitation.

Dr. Curtis took for his subject "Education Through Play."

He pointed out the importance of play in the school curriculum and as an example he explained thoroughly the play movement in England in the various schools. A minimum of twelve hours of play is required in the English schools and all must play the required games. He spoke also of the habit forming elements of games as well as their corrective values. He particularly urged the supervision of the games played.

He stated that every school playground should be supervised by a competent person and that all recess periods should be organized with the teacher in charge and playing the games with the children.

In speaking of the size of the grounds about the school, he said the minimum should be an acre of land, which should be increased for the larger schools. The board of education should supply the balls and bats necessary because it was not fair to the boy who owned a ball for seventeen others to bat it to pieces. The cost of the equipment is small compared to the results gained. Every school ground should have indoor baseball courts, volley ball courts and tennis courts so that all children will have an opportunity to play.

In closing he strongly urged a summer playground, centrally located where all the children can play. This playground should be at a school building, so that its efficiency can be increased. A playground away from the school is idle all day while a school playground is accessible to the children before school, after school and during recess periods and for the regular physical training periods.

The school building furnishes an ideal place for indoor play during inclement weather. At least one playground should be lighted so that adults may play at night. A playground system should be supported by public funds.