Page 48 - 1913 November - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 53

may have its share, as it ought to have, in instructing those who
have little chance for such knowledge, in the preservation of life and
health, the two most important assets.

Carefully compiled statistics show the beneficial results of vaca-
tion schools. Some of the most interesting were that there was an
absolute decrease in the number of cases brought before the juve-
nile courts in communities where there were vacation schools, and that
living conditions of families in densely populated portions of the
city had improved, that the instruction received in summer classes
had helped "to make the house cleaner and the clothes less dependent
on the strained devotion of a pin."5

In recognition of the need for play and f u n demanded by health-
f u l growth which life in our crowded cities has come so near to tak-
ing away, many of our school yards are being equipped as play-
grounds which are to be open every day in vacation for the use of
all boys and girls who want them. A careful, tactful supervisor who
directs the various activities is in charge of each playground. The
supervisors act merely as playfellows with the children in order to
secure the best results, and to allow f u l l development of the individ-
uality of each child.

Gymnastics, regulated games, songs, story-telling, chair-caning,
basket-weaving, housekeeping, Kite-making and folk dancing
are usually carried on in the playgrounds. I t is not necessary to have
them equipped expensively. Some simple gymnastic apparatus
will suffice, and in addition there should be a may-pole, a sand-pile,
skipping ropes, bean bags, swings, and garden space. Many of the
schools have shower baths already attached, and these are thrown
open to the use of the children. I n those schools which have not, it
has been shown that the baths can be very easily rigged up by means
of a rubber hose with a shower attachment. "The eagerness with
which children have availed themselves of these privileges," says
Mr. Perry, "shows that cleanliness is just as contagious as the
measles when one is in a position to catch i t . "

New York has put her playgrounds to good use by setting aside
one out of every five for the exclusive enjoyment of mothers and
babies. No child over six is allowed to enter unless she is in charge
of a baby. Cleveland has a playground equipped with a tent which
is used as a cool, day nursery for mothers living nearby. I n many
of the playgrounds, helpful instruction by medical experts is given
to ignorant mothers as to the proper care of the child. Small bath-

T e r r y , p. 140.