PROBLEMS 191 



Utilitarian planting will take the place of the 

 traditional ugly fence to divide the playgrounds 

 into areas for little children, for the boys, and for 

 the girls. 



The best chance for ornamental planting is about 

 the entrance to the grounds and close about the 

 building. Playgrounds proper should not be 

 shaded, as it is best for the children to play in the 

 simlight ; but trees may well be used in other parts 

 of the grounds to serve as a background, give 

 shade for rest from active sports, shelter sand 

 courts where the little children play, and provide 

 contrast with the large open areas. Seats may be 

 placed beneath the trees. 



In planting modem school grounds the idea is 

 not to have them useful during a few restricted 

 hours of the day only, while the building is open 

 and school is in session, but rather that they may, 

 in a way, take the place of the old-time village 

 green and be permanently attractive and service- 

 able. It will be seen that this point of view is 

 quite directly opposed to that which prevailed only 

 a few years ago, when to all outward appearances 

 the school buildings were very like penal institu- 

 tions. "Shades of the prison house" seemed to be 

 their rightful atmosphere. 



