DIRECTOR'S PLAYGROUND REPORT (cont. ) athe

Lo
% thought the staff was excelleht this year, Although the res~
ponsible leaders were not recreation leaders, they were very cooperative
and very willing to iearn and to try. The high school girls assumed their
duties very well——and they did learn a great deal in handling children

by working with the experienced leader, The junior high girls also did
fine work.

I think that the plan of having at least three paid persons on a
playground is the only solution, I like the graduated salary scale for
the assistants, : |

SCALE FOR FL AYOROUND ASSISTANTS (1943)
i g

Junior High girl unexperienced -— $3,00 for six weeks
Junior High girl experienced - 6,00 for six weeks
High school girl unexperienced - 12,00 for six weeks
High school girl experienced - 15,00 for six weeks
High school girl with nore |

than one year experience - 17.50 for six weeks

My only suggestion is to hire no one "sight-unseen", mas we did this —
past summer in the case of two youngsters of junior high age, They were not
very helpful,

ON INSTITUTE: - .
his is an excellent idea; in fact a necessity because of the shortage |
of recreational leaders. I would suggest that it would be to the playgrounds! ©
advantage to start a week later if it could be arranged to have recreation
training classes for at least three days, The institute should be conducted
with the same seriousness and with the same methods as school, since it is a
training course. Game rules should be explained thoroughly, then the class
should actually play the game and apply the rules, ‘The same method should

be applied to teaching the playground personnel singing games , square dances,
group singing, art, etc. | |

 

t=

_ I think thet here is where our program sagged the most. I don't
feel that it was anyones fault, just too mich to do in too short a time,
Plans for the playgrounds should have been announced in the elementary
school about a month before school was dismissed—-as well as in the
last few PTA meetings, To announce the program before the children
disbanded would have given them time to talk about it and to interest
each other.

In order to "reach some of the needing ones", I would suggest
that each child sign a card before school is out; giving his name,
address, school attending, favorite games and activities, has he ever
attended playground; would he be interested this sumer; if not, why
not. Thus with filed information like this, a quick survey could be
made as to tentative enrollment, a district's likes and dislikes,
what children really need the playground, etc.

When Mrs. Mae Turher took over the publicity for the papers this
season, it took a big load off my shoulders, So I would suggest that
all recreation publicity should be put into reliable hands and such
publicity covering all recreation should be started early in the Spring,