Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/179

 THE MOVEMENT FOR SMALL PLAYGROUNDS l6l

from five to fifteen, to say nothing of the babies they bring under their care. We prefer girls, as boys can go off for long strolls. We have limited classes and sessions, as we deem these necessary to the best results. We teach seven hundred children each day, and then they play our games on the street all day. We have little equipment : flags for patriotic purposes, perforated cards, colored paper for folding, and books to paste in, and a few toys." For details see Our Neighbors, August, October, and November, 1897.

The good example of Boston has been followed in Providence, R. I., Philadelphia, and Baltimore, Md., where in 1897 the United Women of Maryland maintained several playgrounds in school yards.

In Philadelphia one playground was kept open in 1894 by the City Parks Association. During 1895 various organizations held meetings agitating the subject, then petitioned the board of education; until finally the use of four school yards was granted. Councils appropriated gi,000 for their maintenance, and in each "one kindergartner was appointed by the city director of kinder- gartens as care-taker and the janitor as assistant to protect property and keep order." The plan followed is practically the same as that in Boston. This year twenty-seven such play- grounds are maintained by the board of education — the grounds being open in the afternoon, under the supervision of the janitor only.

Said one kindergartner in a yard where several hundred chil- dren were seated in a ring on benches and chairs supplied in plenty, singing songs together : " I get along beautifully when there are not more than two hundred or three hundred children ! But sometimes, when there are more, I have all I can do just to keep order. But they are so happy to come and are so good I have little difficulty." All about were baby carriages with babies fast asleep in all the din. "The mothers leave them," said the matron, " and I make them the center of my work. I tell the children they must be careful not to disturb the babies, not to bump up against them; and you would be surprised at their care and thoughtfulness. It keeps them from getting too wild.'