SCHOOL GROUNDS 279 



slides, and other apparatus, but even then there 

 should be abundant room for gardens, borders of 

 shrubs, skating, and coasting. If school grounds 

 could be planned in advance before the property 

 needed is covered with expensive buildings, they 

 could be developed with far greater economy than 

 under present methods. Since school-houses have 

 often been erected in cities on small sites allowing 

 no room for outdoor exercise, it has fallen to the lot 

 of various public-spirited bodies, including boards 

 of aldermen, park commissions and improvement 

 associations, to supply playgrounds. This causes 

 much duplication of effort and expenditure of time 

 and money that would have been unnecessary 

 with the exercise of wise foresight. 



Now that city planning is receiving attention, 

 perhaps future school yards will become adequate. 

 In general, they should contain all the features 

 found in the best playgrounds. There should be 

 room for tennis, baseball, and other games, for 

 gymnastic apparatus, and provision for swimming, 

 space for trees to give shade and make the grounds 

 attractive, and there should be shrubs and flowers. 

 The grounds should be planned so that portions 

 of them could be flooded in winter for skating. 



