TABLE 6.-Summary of State legislation regarding the use of school playgrounds during after-school hours

Limited to cities having a population of 100,000 and more.

Limited to cities of the first, third, fourth, and fifth classes, and in towns.
Enactments apply to the entire State except Boston.

Additional legislation permitting boards of education to use and supervise parts of municipal parks for school activities.

IV. Progress in School Playground Development

Progress reported by State departments.-Throughout the country the State departments of education of many of the States are rendering various kinds of assistance in the matter of securing and equipping school playgrounds. In some States the State departments of education include a special division of school buildings and grounds and a director has been placed in charge of the work. In some States all plans for school buildings and sites must be submitted for approval to the State department of education.

In some States personal conferences and visits are made by the State director of physical education whose duty it is to see that sufficient space and equipment are provided for carrying on the required program in physical education.

In other States valuable assistance is rendered by means of special suggestive circulars and pamphlets regarding construction layout and equipment of playgrounds. These circulars have been prepared and distributed to county superintendents and principals throughout the State.

Alabama.-During the past year a special research regarding the play facilities of the schools throughout the State was conducted by Dr. A. J. Sharman, State director of physical education. In regard to the purchase or improvement of playgrounds, it is the duty of the county superintendent of education to recommend in writing the "purchase of playgrounds and school sites, and to see to it that the plans and specifications and rules and regulations of the State board of education, etc., are carefully followed out." (Alabama School Code, 1927. See p. 64, sec. 155, Art. VII, and p. 84, sec. 226, Art. X.) Arkansas. In 1924 there was created in the State department of education a division of school ground and schoolhouse planning, with a director in charge of the work.

Visits by the State supervisor of buildings and grounds, or plans for buildings, may be had without cost to school officials or school organizations through the county superintendent or the State Department of Education, Little Rock, Ark.

The division prepares school-ground plans for communities, when convinced that these plans will be developed.

During the period 1924-1926 ground plans were furnished to 12 counties in the State and practically all were developed.

California. The 1929 State Manual of Physical Activities for Elementary Schools contains a chapter regarding areas, equipment, and layouts suitable for school playgrounds.

Connecticut. Special attention has been given to the improvement of rural school grounds. The State department of education has given special attention to the problem of play areas and beautification of school grounds.

District of Columbia.-There is need for additional playground space, especially around the older schools. This need was brought out by a special survey of the public-school system, made by the United States Bureau of Efficiency in 1928. (S. Doc. No. 58, 70th Cong.) A special study is under way and a recent conference was called under the auspices of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Representatives from various organizations which are promoting recreational work in the District of Columbia participated in the conference and discussed the possibilities of coordination of their work as well as the problems of planning for future areas.

Delaware.-A special bulletin, Minimum Standards for School Building Sites, was published in 1927. In that bulletin it is recommended that

Before any ground is purchased as a site for a new school or for an addition to an existing school the approval of the State board of education shall be secured. It is recommended that the State board of education be advised of proposed sites and be given an opportunity to look over the same before application for approval is asked. Final application for such approval shall be accompanied by a map showing dimensions, surrounding roads, points of compass location in district. * The site should be regular in outline and have a minimum size of 2 acres plus an additional two hundred fifty (250) square feet for each pupil, with a maximum of 10 acres. Not more than 20 per cent of the site is to be used for the building (p. 15, Minimum Standards for School Buildings and Sites. Published by department of public instruction, 1927).

*

Florida.-A mimeographed circular of information, School Sites and Play Space, was issued recently by the State department of education. That circular contains suggestions for layout and equipment along with reports of progress in various parts of the State in the matter of providing play areas.

Georgia. The Manual for Georgia Teachers, published by the State department of education, contains suggestions regarding suitable school sites, and their preparation for the play activities of the school children.

Illinois. A special circular, No. 219, entitled, "Aids to Teachers and School Directors of the One-Teacher School," was issued by the State superintendent of public instruction in 1927. The bulletin contains suggestions for layout of school grounds for small rural schools.

Kansas. A few suggestions regarding the selection and layout of school grounds are included in the bulletin, Better Schools for Kansas, published by the State Department of Education, in 1928.

Kentucky. The pamphlet, Rural School Standards, published in 1923, under the direction of the State superintendent of public instruction, contains suggestions for equipping and beautification of school yards. Furthermore, the regulations of the State department of public instruction require that the "school site must meet the requirements as to 'ample grounds'" as indicated on the standardization score card. According to this score card, 125 points were allowed. for grounds and outbuildings-of this number 35 were allowed for suitable grounds. However, no specific acreage was required; "at least 1 acre, preferably more, depending on the size of the school; for a school of 150 or more pupils not less than 2 acres; acreage enough to meet educational needs of pupils for play and recreation---grounds well laid out, well drained, and fenced."

Louisiana. The general school laws of the State require that plans for new schools be submitted to the State department of education

for approval. This law makes it possible for the building plans committee of the State department of education to exercise a decided influence in respect to the size of playgrounds. Unless there are unusual financial considerations involved, the usual recommendation is that the site contains not less than 5 acres.

Maine. There has been such an ample provision of school yards throughout the State that there seems no need for rules and regulations requiring specified areas. In fact at the present time nearly every school in the State is provided with 2 to 5 acres, and 15 points out of 100 required for a standard school may be scored on ample playgrounds equipped for intelligent play. At the present time, the State department of education is carrying out a project of improving play areas as follows: The State is contributing $500 to certain towns for the beautification of a special number of school buildings and grounds representing the 1, 2, 3, and 4 room types. In order to get the amount which the State contributes, the community must undertake a program of school equipment and beautification. There must be committees appointed on interior decoration and equipment, playgrounds, and equipment, and on general arrangement. .In addition there must be committees appointed who will take care of this work during the

summer.

Maryland.-Practically all of the schools are visited by Dr. William Burdick, State supervisor of physical education who gives special attention to the matter of suitable playground layouts for rural schools.

Massachusetts.-Previous to 15 years ago, few schools had acquired large playgrounds. However, considerable attention has been given to this matter recently. Statistical studies show that large sites have been acquired by many schools throughout the State. A special survey made for the 5-year period, 1922-1927, regarding the provision of school playgrounds, points out the following numerical increase in the provision of these facilities:

In 1922 there were 225 playgrounds for the elementary schools; in 1927 there were 778 playgrounds for the elementary schools; in 1922 there were 54 playgrounds and 38 athletic fields for junior high schools; in 1927 there were 97 playgrounds and 66 athletic fields for junior high schools; in 1922 there were 52 playgrounds and 91 athletic fields for high schools; and in 1927 there were 61 playgrounds and 133 athletic fields for high schools.

Missouri.-A special bulletin, the Socialized School, the School Grounds and their Equipment, published in 1925, contains detailed suggestions for planning and equipping playgrounds.

Nebraska.-A special bulletin, Rural School Standards, was published in 1927 by the department of public instruction and a special

bulletin regarding landscape beautification of school yards was issued in March, 1929.

New Jersey. A special study of the status of physical and health education in the State of New Jersey, conducted by James E. Rogers, was published May 20, 1927. That study contained a plea for additional playground space and equipment. A survey of the school playgrounds of the entire State is in progress at the present time.

New York. The State department of education makes definite recommendations regarding the layout and equipment of school yards. A circular of information prepared by the physical education bureau and issued monthly, frequently contains information and suggestions regarding school playgrounds. The acquisition of large areas for school yards is a recent development. Few were acquired previous to 15 years ago. However, during the period 1913-1923, sites of 5 or more acres were purchased for 110 city and village schools.

North Carolina.-The State department of education has assisted materially in the problem of layout and equipment of school yards by a generous distribution of several plue prints prepared under the direction of Mr. John J. Blair, director of schoolhouse planning, Raleigh, N. C. The blue prints available contain suggested layout and equipment of playgrounds, and plans for beautification of school yards.

North Dakota.-A leaflet containing the requirements for standardization of rural schools published by the State department of education contains a few general suggestions regarding the school grounds and their equipment.

Oklahoma.-A publication, Model and Accredited Elementary School Buildings, contains a few suggestions regarding the layout, equipment, and beautification of school grounds.

Oregon. While there are no laws or regulations regarding suitable areas for school playgrounds, a few suggestions for school officials. regarding playgrounds were included in the compilation of school laws published in 1923.

Pennsylvania.-The State council of education has fixed a minimum standard of from 2 to 5 acres for consolidated schools of the State dependent upon the character and size of the school. In order for a district to erect a consolidated school on less than 2 acres special action must be taken by the State council of education. It is very seldom that this request is made. School boards generally throughout the State are securing even more land than the minimum prescribed by the State Council.

The State Department of Public Instruction of Pennsylvania, in 1927, issued a special playground manual containing suggestions for layout and equipment of school yards.