276 NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL CENTERS 



sistance in such matters. The playground should include 

 a tennis court, baseball diamond, grove, etc. This is only 

 intended to be a suggestive outline as to what a farming 

 community should do to provide a central meeting place 

 and stimulate the pleasure of country life. Almost any- 

 body taking up this subject will have practical ideas on 

 carrying forward such a project. Where there is no 

 church in the neighborhood, it is sometimes found desir- 

 able to establish a Sunday school in these community cen- 

 ters, and the buildings may be used for preaching ser- 

 vices when desired. 



Plans for ornamentation will suggest themselves. 

 Nearly every woman in the community would feel able 

 and willing to contribute plants and assist in their har- 

 monious arrangement about the building and ground. 

 Experiments in flower growing could be taken up and 

 made exceedingly practical, besides beautifying the 

 grounds. There might also be room enough for other 

 experiments in seed germination or the production of 

 novel plants. 



Society in the country fails to receive from its schools 

 the results which it needs. This deficiency is recognized 

 by all of the larger schools and the farmers' institutes, 

 which today are giving a great deal of attention to the 

 social life of agricultural communities. In fact, the gov- 

 ernment itself has recognized the menace to the nation 

 in the old conditions and is inquiring for a remedy. 



Farmers' institutes, granges and colleges are among 

 the leading agencies which are applying remedies for the 

 defects in our rural schools and in the social conditions 

 surrounding them. While they are still far short of at- 

 taining sufficient results, they are progressing along right 

 lines. 



