RECREATION AND SOCIAL LIFE

THE VALUE OF PLAY

Children enjoy play because it satisfies physical, mental, and social wants.  But it is also the principal means by which they prepare for the more serious duties of later life.  It builds up health, trains the muscles and the senses, and sharpens the wits.  It gives practice in team work, develops leadership, and teaches the value of “rules of the game.”  Every child is entitled to an abundant opportunity to play, both because of the happiness it affords him and because by it he is trained for membership in the community.  It is to the interest of the community to afford him the opportunity.  It is largely for this reason that most of the states protect children by law from being put to work for a living at too early an age.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLAY IN CITIES

In large cities thousands of children live in crowded districts where there is no place to play except in the public streets.  So little appreciative have we been of the importance of play in the development of young citizens that great numbers of city schools have been built with no provision whatever for playgrounds.  This mistake is slowly being corrected, often at great expense.  No city school is now considered first-class if it does not have an ample and well-equipped playground, with competent directors to teach children how to get the most out of their play.  Most cities are also establishing public playgrounds apart from the schools, sometimes under the management of the school board, but often under that of a special playground or recreation commission.

PLAY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

Play for the children of rural communities is as important as for those of cities, but even less attention has been given to it.  Many a country school has no playground, and if it has one it is likely to be small and not equipped with play apparatus.  Why should there be playgrounds when there is all outdoors in which to play?  Why should there be expensive play apparatus and play directors when boys and girls can get all the “exercise” they need at home or on the farm?  “Play” means more than mere physical exercise, and must be pleasurable if it is to have value.  Organized play is as truly a means of education as any school instruction, and must have competent leadership or direction.  In rural districts, where the children live far apart, there is particular need for a common meeting place for organized group play, and the school is the most appropriate place for it.

ARGUMENT FOR SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION

The need for organized play in rural communities is one of the best arguments for school consolidation, for it brings together larger numbers and makes possible the employment of a competent play director and the proper equipment of the playground.  Teacher-training schools now make a point of training play leaders as well as teachers of arithmetic and geography.