350 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



that "a boy without a playground is father to the man Avithout a job," 

 for it is nature's method of making a man, and play is a necessity to a 

 child and not a mere luxury. Even the cities have been slow to grasp 

 the deep importance of the playground movement. Today, however, 

 most, if not all, large cities are providing means for one or more play- 

 grounds, thus realizing from its demonstrated success that ' ' healthy and 

 happy play saves from idleness, vice and crime. Children denied the 

 opportunity to work off their animal spirits in wholesome exercise will 

 pervert those spirits into mischievous use. Most juvenile crimes are 

 said to originate in the congested parts of the cities, and the playground 

 instructor secures his influence because he knows more things which 

 will hold and interest the children than their natural street leader. It 

 has been found that the best results come from proper supervision rather 

 than permitting the children to look out for themselves. 



"Play is nature's short cut to experience," for while mider a di- 

 rector the child is left free to choose the games he will play, for children 's 

 sports should be freely developed for the sake of the child, and not the 

 spectators. The wholesome lessons which fit the child for the future 

 true citizen are those learned on the playground. Playground directors 

 often find at first many of the children knowing nothing of play's de- 

 light; therefore, teasing, interruptions, rude blows and fights are fre- 

 quent — bad language also invades the playground ; but the children are 

 soon taught that the rights of others must be observed, and by denying 

 them a part in the games as a punishment for disobedience, they are 

 soon brought to terms. Here they are taught to play fairly, take no 

 advantage, be courteous, but to play hard and win if you can. These 

 lessons are for the child now and the coming man later. 



Fully believing that to "Every child equal opportunities, not the 

 fortunate few, but all the children," I ask if playgrounds have proved 

 so practical in the cities, why the children of our inland homes cannot 

 have the same privilege ? "We have plenty of broad acres, with children 

 just as eager for play and just as appreciative of ways and means pro- 

 vided. The answer has always been the same — "the country child has 

 enough exercise at home and in his walk to and from school, with fresh 

 air upon all sides." But is this play? Stop and think of the many 

 duties and chores that fall to their little hands and feet before and after 

 school ! These are proper and good in their place, but they utterly fail 

 to supply to that boy or girl what they crave in companionship or in 

 stimulating the activities of brain and body. 



The cost of necessary facilities seem a great drawback, and many 

 town schools gave up the idea of a playground on this score. But in 

 our little town of New Franklin, the mothers and teachers put their 



