The Case for Public Playgrounds

Likely your children are among the band of lusty youngsters at the Central school grounds each afternoon after school is dismissed. I passed the grounds about five o'clock the other evening and heard all the riot of sound and action. On the diamond, a baseball match was in progress, and the rivalry between the teams and supporters was fierce. Little girls were in the swings while their playmates eagerly waited their turn. The row of rings was developing healthy young athletes and the 'toboggan slides' equalled the 'Pay Streak' features of the Alaska exposition for real thrillers. Watching and overseeing the children in their play were several of the city teachers. Quite a knot of us grown-ups lined up on the sidewalk and watched the proceedings. Listen: We didn't hear a single cuss word nor spy a single cigarette. No kid was getting initiated into the mystery of a pint flask. Voting America was playing with all its might and main, and it was clean, exhilarating sport—the kind that makes ragged bodies, clear minds and clean souls. So, father and mother, when the boy or girl asks to go down to the Central grounds for an hour or so, say yes. Your growing boy and girl needs the recreation as much as they need food and sleep. Wouldn't you a thousand times rather have them on the school grounds under the eyes of their teachers than learning to smoke cigarettes and drink beer on the sly somewhere?