USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1925 > Part 6
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1925 > Part 6
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During 1924 and 1925 the number of summer units has increased from eleven to seventeen, and the number of child- ren under supervision has increased about 40 per cent. Di- rect superintendence, by the Director, of individual supervi- sors' work among their own groups of children is more dif- ficult. Administrative problems are larger and more com-
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plicated. Special supervision for special activities can no long- er be delegated to part-time specialists, but requires full-time special supervision. Any progress, and in fact maintenance of present efficiency, urgently demands
(a) Employment of Assistants to the Director, who shall not be attached to any given playground in particular.
(b) Increased provision for interplayground visitation and transportation of supplies.
(c) Increased provision for expense of coordinating supervision through central headquarters.
(d) Employment of additional persons to assist in supervision on larger units,-Lincoln Park, Foss- Fellsway, Glen Street.
Attendance
Attendance has been high and regular at all the play- grounds, with a significant uniformity throughout each week and throughout the season on any given playground. The City-wide aggregate attendance this season, partly because of the increased number of play units, was greater than that of the 1924 season by about ten per cent; and the same is true of the average daily attendance. Most noticeable in increased attendance among the older playgrounds were the Fellsway and Morse grounds.
Activities
The activities conducted on the playgrounds may be grouped under six heads and distinguished as Games, Hand- work, Dancing, Safety Campaign, Miscellaneous Activities, and Special Events including the Final Play Festival and Dis- play of Handwork. For the sake of brevity, the activities are not discussed in detail. The Report of the Director for 1924 gives a detailed explanation of them.
CLOSING PLAY FESTIVAL. The closing festival held on the Wednesday evening of the final week of the season, at twi- light, was calculated to serve a four fold purpose, namely :
1. The purpose suggested by its name.
2. To demonstrate organized play to the public, and exhibit its results, with a view to securing wider public interest.
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3. To encourage the children in their play activities, and to provide free public recreation for adults.
4. To give the children an opportunity to repay the community in part for the benefits they had received from the supervised playgrounds.
The Festival attracted several thousands of the public in addition to the three thousand five hundred boys and girls who participated in the twenty events on the program. It was conducted on Central Hill Park, in the area in front of the High School Buildings and the City Hall Annex. The pro- gram of events included competitive games for boys and girls, folk dancing accompanied by music furnished by a brass band, relay races, marches, drills, a doll carriage parade, and a procession of the participating children.
This festival furnished a fitting close to the playground season.
Finances
The total expenditure from the City Treasury for the Summer Playgrounds program under your Commission was $3,550.00. Of this amount the expense of the supervision was $2,229.00, not including salary paid to the Director during the summer, which is elsewhere included as a part of the all- year item of Director's Salary ; for supplies, maintenance and labor, $1,321.00.
The Somerville Playgrounds Association has been of great financial assistance (for some years past), in providing equipment, particularly on those areas not under control of the City Engineer's Department.
Further financial assistance came, of course, from the fact that the cost of supervision on the Tufts Old Campus Playground was met by the Mothers' Circle.
As a result of these facts, and of the additional fact that new equipment and repairing of old equipment must be provided to cope with the results of wear and deterioration through several years, it seems wise to point out here that in anticipating the year 1926 from the financial standpoint a fairly substantial increase in expenditure for equipment, and for City supervision of the Tufts unit, must be considered. And at this point, too, the Director, regarding finances, calls attention to the possibility of still additional cost involved in the proposed increase of number of playgrounds to be oper- ated in the Summer and at other seasons. This increase is pro- posed in the series of Recommendations later in this report.
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Recommendations-Summer Playgrounds
Based on thoughtful study and thirteen years of intimate experience with the playground situation in Somerville, the following recommendations for the future are submitted at this point, as belonging most especially to the Summer sea- son's interest ; they will be included again in a series of rec- ommendations later in this report, covering the general Rec- reation work of the entire year. Other recommendations , prompted by experience in the Summer Playgrounds season of 1924, are purposely omitted at this point and reserved, on the ground that they have application beyond the Summer sea- son, for inclusion in the General Recommendations near the close of this General Report.
1. The early completion of the Playground at the West- ern Junior High School.
2. Improvement (and possibly extension) of the play- ground at Joy Street.
3. Providing a playground surface and equipment on the vacant land (a large part of which is City prop- erty) at the junction of Oliver and Glen Streets, the equipment to include fencing, replacement of baseball back-stop, swing-frames, seats, shelter house and shade trees.
4. Early completion of Saxton C. Foss Park, with a view to utilizing the lower end of it for athletic purposes, or the alternative suggested later in this report under the caption, "Playgrounds."
5. Resurfacing the playground at the Morse School; and completing the enclosure of the area by adding erection of a screen fence, on the westerly side, like that on the southerly side.
6. Installing of more permanent framework for swings and teeters at the Morse Playground.
7. The planting of shade trees on some of the play- grounds to provide a natural shelter for the future.
.8. Provision for a male supervisor at Central Hill Playground to serve the athletic interests of the boys at that center and to give part time supervision to older boys' activities at the Morse School Playground in Summer. (No male supervisor has ever been as- signed to either playground.)
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9. Operation in Summer of additional units on the grounds of the Union Square branch of the Public Library; at the Cherry Street grounds recently pur- chased for play uses; and on the grounds of the Northeastern Junior High School.
10. Increasing the length of the period of supervision by at least one week.
11. Provision of musical accompaniment for folk danc- ing.
12. Provision for increase in the supervision corps to meet the needs mentioned earlier in this report under the caption, "Supervision."
Saturday and Afternoon Playgrounds
Conduct of supervised play on Saturdays is calculated specifically to encourage active play of children under eleven years of age. Still further expansion of the supervised play plan, a program of after-school supervised athletics, aims to serve the older boys and girls,-those of the Junior High School and High School age.
For details of the work in this branch, reference is made to the 1924 report.
For outlining the methods, the activities, and the results in both these fields, it is well to emphasize the distinctive characteristics of each of these activities as they are to be differentiated from each other and from the Summer activi- ties.
Specific Objectives
In the Saturday Playgrounds supervision :
(1) The "Neighborhood Playgrounds" idea is empha- sized, as expressed in the selection of smaller and less pretentious play areas, close to the homes of the children of districts somewhat limited in area, rather than the larger play centers, such as the public parks, which are intended to serve larger districts.
(2) Special emphasis is given to the attempt to inter- est and provide activity for smaller children- those below eleven years of age.
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In the After-School supervised athletics :
(1) More active and less varied organized games, adapted to play by older boys and girls are en- couraged.
(2) The larger areas, intended to serve larger districts, are operated ; and fewer units have therefore been organized.
Saturday Playgrounds
Gradually, eight units of organized play have GROUNDS: been under supervision. They are listed in the Director's 1924 report.
It should be noted that no Saturday playground is west of the summit of Spring Hill; and that all units are located within approximately only one-third of the City's area; and that all but those at the Morse School are located within one- quarter of Somerville. This limitation has been necessary be- cause funds were not available for any expansion. The Di- rector is decidedly of the conviction that the number of Sat- urday playgrounds to be supervised in 1926 should be at least twice as great as the number supervised in 1925. There is a present demand on the part of children and adults in sev- eral sections for added units.
Repetition is here made of the analysis offered in the 1924 Report, regarding the value of this branch of the work and the Director's judgment regarding desirable future policy :--
1. The Saturday Playground is entitled to a position of great importance in developing a Municipal Recreation pro- gram.
2. The "Neighborhood Playground" plan enlists the activity of quite as many children-though in a larger num- ber of units-as does the Summer Playgrounds plan of organ- ization, within the sections of the City thus far provided for.
3. The "Neighborhood Playground" plan has the impor- tant merit that it reaches very many children who otherwise might not acquire the habit of utilizing the City's playground facilities.
4. The "Neighborhood Playground" plan enlists the more intimate interest of a great number of parents.
5. The "Neighborhood Playground" plan must result in a greater attendance on the large playgrounds later, inas- much as it "educates" children in their early years to the. Municipal Playground idea.
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6. The Saturday Playground plan contributes largely to a "carrying over" from summer to summer of the desirable results obtained in following the objectives of the Playground work.
Afternoon Supervision
The after-school supervision of athletic activities for boys and girls of High and Junior High School age, two after- noons a week during the 18 weeks of Spring and Fall seasons, was conducted on the same basis as during the preceding year. No funds being available for expansion of, or further experiment in, the idea, there are only a few matters to be reported as new. These are mentioned immediately below and reference is here made, for complete statement on this branch of this work, to the Director's 1924 report.
Attendance at the boys' units has increased about 40 per cent beyond that of 1924, without increased cost, indicat- ing growth in appreciation and utilization of their opportuni- ties among the boys of the city; also the need and demand for this branch of your Commission's service; the increasing value to the Community to be realized from this undertaking as time goes on without proportionate increase in cost; and the worthiness of the expenditure that would be involved in extending the service to sections of the City not now reached.
Attendance and activity at the Girls' Centers, reported at the close of 1924 to be far less satisfactory than that of the boys' centers, was not much increased during 1925, in spite of persistent effort and study by your Director and the re- sponsible supervisors ; and the experiment in this phase of the work was discontinued by action of the Commission, at the Director's recommendation, at the close of October, 1925. This discontinuance was made partly because of the need for transference of funds to other branches of the Commission's work where more immediate results were possible.
In explanation of the apparent temporary failure of the experiment here, it should be recalled
1. That this experiment had been launched considerably later than that among the boys, and had therefore not had time to develop to the same degree ;
2. That between September 15, 1924 and October 25, 1925, not more than $220 was expended on the supervision for the girls, while some actual physical and recreational value came during this time to a small number of girls who took ad- vantage. All of them, according to the Commission's view, were fully entitled to these advantages.
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3. That the inherent difficulty of enlisting the interest of present-day post-adolescent girls in this kind of activity is very great, especially when all of the centers of possible ac- tivity are so public and unsecluded.
Finances-Saturday and Afternoon Playgrounds
Expenditure in the field of Saturday and after-school supervised play amounted to $1,505.01 ; of which $1,339.50 was expended for supervision and $165.51 for supplies, etc.
Recommendations-Saturday and Afternoon Playgrounds
The following recommendations regarding future con- duct of the Saturday and Afternoon Supervised Play are re- spectfully submitted. They are repeated later in this report among the General Recommendations concerning the Recrea- tion work as a whole :-
1. Increasing the number of Saturday "Neighborhood" Playground units from 8 to at least 16, making this branch of the work City-wide in scope, beginning immediately with the Kent Street Grounds.
2. Increasing the number of units of boys' supervised after-school athletics from two to four.
3. Increasing the number of sessions per week at after- school playgrounds,-from two to three afternoons.
4. Provision of the necessary field equipment for Ten- nis, Field Hockey, Soccer, etc., for use at these after-school sessions.
Girls' Canning and Preserving Activities
A most efficiently administered and supervised branch of the undertaking of the Public Welfare and Recreation Com- mission is the activity among girls who during spare time in Spring, Summer and Fall preserve fruits, vegetables, etc. Though this branch is perhaps less spectacular and is less known publicly, a high degree of efficiency in preserving has been attained among many girls of Somerville, whose ages range from 10 to 15 years; and a highly enjoyable and profit- able form of recreation has been provided them.
This work has been carried on in 1925 more extensively than ever before. Girls were enrolled earlier and in larger
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number; and a larger numerical proportion of them completed the season's exercises and requirements.
The organization of the work requirements made upon participating girls, schedule of sessions, centers, etc., and the details of the work are carefully presented in the Director's Report for 1924 to which reference is again made. (See pp. 28-30. Annual Report of the Commission for 1924.)
INCREASED ENROLLMENT. One hundred thirty-five girls were enrolled in the Clubs.
The products of their activity included approximately 8,000 jars, glasses, etc. These contained fruits, vegetables, jellies, jam, soups, fish, and pickle products.
EXHIBITION. On September 25, 1925, a central exhibition was held at the High School. About 800 jars were attrac- tively displayed. First, second and third prizes were given for the best work in each year of enrollment. Honorable men- tion was given to ten others. Over 75% of the parents of children enrolled in the clubs were present at the exhibition showing more decidedly than ever the widespread in- terest which is growing from year to year in this home-making work.
FINANCES. The total cost of carrying on this work was $568.81, of which $420. was expended on salaries of supervi- sors ; $48.81 on supplies and prizes ; and $100 for dues paid to the Middlesex County Bureau of Agriculture and Domestic Science Division of Junior Extension Work, for securing the County cooperation defined and described in the 1924 Report, page 29.
Public Evening Recreation Centers
The Public Evening Recreation Centers aim at profitable recreation-indoors-for adults. The scope of the work thus far has been limited to young men. No elaborate or inten- sive program has been carried out, because of a variety of rea- sons, which are here indicated. But in general summary the Director submits as his estimate that results have been proportionate to the City's financial expenditure (about $430.00 for the year) ; proportionate to the possibilities of an undertaking in which appropriate indoor recreation facilities are almost totally lacking and the workers in supervision all part time or occasional workers; and proportionate to the time during which this branch of the work has had opportun- ity for evolution.
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CENTERS. The three centers are located in the buildings of the Bennett, Bingham and Morse Schools. In each building a room (a double room at the Bennett Center), used during the day by children of the lower primary grades, is at the dis- posal of the young men in attendance, with sessions from 7:30 to 9:30, two evenings each week. The evenings vary with the various centers. A piano is available at each.
ATTENDANCE. The average attendance for all centers has been thirty young men an evening, with a maximum attend- ance of 175 at the Bingham; 85 at the Bennett, and 65 at the Morse. The average age of those in attendance has been 19 years. The minimum age for participation is 17 years. Very few above the age of twenty-one have been attracted, though it has not been the intention to restrict the activity for the benefit of youths.
ACTIVITIES. Since the whole enterprise has not passed the experimental nature, the program of activities is still in process of evolution. Naturally, a diversity is found among the local communities to which the centers cater; and accord- ingly there is a diversity in the nature of the activities.
Among the activities carried on may be mentioned :
1. Group singing and the organization of Glee Clubs.
2. Some reading.
3. Table games, puzzles and pastimes.
4. Half-hour "talks" by prominent athletes.
5. Indoor athletics (in the Bingham School only.)
6. Discussion of current topics of interest, as radio.
7. Informal, unpretentious, improvised entertainments.
8. Whist and checker tournaments.
9. An orchestra.
10. Initial steps in developing activities in drama.
11. Debating.
12. A movement to arouse interest and organization leading to out-of-door activities, after the indoor sea- son, among the same young men, and their friends, who frequent the indoor centers. This movement crystalized itself in organization of a baseball league for Somerville young men, which operated success- fully in the Summer. The members and followers of each team held occasional meetings in the build- ings where the centers are located in the hours of
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the center sessions. Some of the teams have con- ducted recreational enterprises, such as whist parties, to finance the outfitting of the baseball teams, and in this way they have provided recrea- tion for parents and friends in their respective com- munities ; and have also enlisted the interest of per- sons in those communities in the Recreation Centers and in the general program of the Public Welfare and Recreation Department.
SUPERVISION. . In the conduct of this undertaking three persons besides the Director have been employed for supervi- sion ; one being the Supervisor of one center, one a leader in the musical activities in all three centers, and one a general assist- ant employed according to need in one center or another.
An analysis of the values of recreation centers to Somer- ville, the provisions that are necessary for any further develop- ment and the difficulties of the work at present, is given in the Director's 1924 report. Definite Recommendations, on this study and analysis are submitted at the close of this present report.
Neighborhood Center
For the Welfare and Recreation work at the Anne Mc- Carthy Neighborhood Center, located in the Bennett School building, report of operations for 1925 would be very much the same as for 1924. All of the work outlined in the pre- vious report (pages 35-37) has been carried forward and the organization and methods have continued the same until the usual closing in May.
With the resumption of the Fall Season, however, an im- portant change was made necessary in the Commission's policy with regard to this Center. The entire financial responsibility for this center, or, as alternative, minimizing its operations, was made necessary by the withdrawal from the enterprise of the representatives of the Committee on Ways and Means of the Somerville Federated Women's Clubs, who had for sev- eral years shared in the administration and financing of this center to such degree that the control of the Center was large- ly in the hands of these ladies.
Since the Commission was without funds for assuming the entire burden, and since any continuance of operation opened up the problem of developing a new organization under City administration, the Commission adopted a policy of de-
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liberation as to its future program; and thus the usual fall reopening of the center's activities has been postponed in 1925, and only in December was any decision reached. In ac- cordance with this decision, an experimental reopening is to be made in the beginning of January 1926, with greatly re- duced activities.
Community Drama in Recreation
The work under the Commission in Recreational Drama, in which experimental beginnings were made late in 1924, has been carried somewhat further in 1925, still without any ex- pense to the City.
The general theory in this experiment has been
(1) that a city of Somerville's size has a goodly num- ber of young men and women who are interested in dramatic expression and its kindred arts of aesthetic dancing, pageantry, choral activities, scenic lighting, stagecraft, public speaking, etc .;
(2) that such interest can be stimulated into organ- ized activity encouraged by the Municipal Depart- ment controlled by your Commission ;
(3) that cultural and recreational value to the com- inunity at large would result from any consider- able activity by groups thus organized, to be af- fected by amateur theatricals and pageants, or- ganization of district dramatic clubs, etc. ;
(4) that the Public Recreation Centers, Church and Parish Associations and Clubs, the High School Players' Club, etc., constitute a ready medium of organizing activities ;
(5) that public observances of such holidays as Christ- mas, Independence Day, etc., can furnish another medium.
In addition to the beginnings reported a year ago, the outstanding feature has been the organization of about 75 persons from various sections of Somerville and of widely varying ages, into "The Somerville Little Theatre," which has held monthly meetings and some special meetings, at which several one-act plays have been staged; and which fur-
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nished the cast, coaching, lighting, etc. for a very creditable performance of a modern comedy in High School Hall during May for financial benefit to the Somerville Amateur Baseball League, organized under the auspices of your Commission and discussed later in this Report.
General Public Activities
Under head of General Public Activities, the promotion of an amateur baseball league for young men is reported as the outstanding feature of the year. Eight teams were mem- bers, each with a large following of young men; and there was conducted successfully a ten-week schedule of games in which each team played twice a week in the league.
Hundreds of Somerville people besides the participants were furnished recreation by the activities of the league, in- cluding the preliminary preparations during February, March and April. In this pre-season period were held various meetings for organization, Committee meetings, etc., which have had, the Director believes, great social-civic value to Somerville as a community. The great social and recrea- tional values of organized public recreation were brought to the attention of hundreds of residents. Groups from distant sections of the City met in common enterprise. Exchange of ideas and reflection on the recreation possibilities available and needed in Somerville were some of the products of this business. So strongly have the possibilities been demonstrat- ed that the Director is fully convinced that with workers and facilities provided, and with very small expense, there could be rapidly developed in Somerville a far-reaching organiza- tion of young men who would be actively interested in an all- year-round program of indoor and outdoor sports, with great profit to themselves physically, socially, and morally, and with immeasurable benefit to the Community at large.
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