PROBLEM 93

PLANNING THE EQUIPMENT FOR A GYMNASIUM

Problem: The superintendent of schools and the physical director of Charleston, N. K., have been in consultation concerning the character of the gymnasium to be built in the new high school and the equipment to be planned for the same. The question before them is what constitutes the most desirable equipment for a high school gymnasium.

The physical director has brought to the conference a plan for a gymnasium which is reproduced in Diagram 1. He has indicated the equipment which, to his mind, would make it possible to secure the greatest amount of use out of the gymnasium. His equipment has been worked out from the needs of group activities. The equipment includes provisions for basket ball, volley ball, indoor baseball, climbing ropes for groups, balance beams, two high jumps, two horizontal bars, and a vaulting box. The superintendent is anxious to provide stall bars, parallel bars, vaulting bucks, horses, travel rings, chest weights, horizontal and vertical ladders, and other similar types of gymnasium equipment. The difference in opinion between the superintendent and the physical director is based largely upon the difference in theory concerning physical education.

Assignment

1. What is the basis for determining the equipment for a gymnasium in a city high school of 750 students?

2. Does the equipment play any part in determining the construction and dimensions of the gymnasium?

3. Comment upon the layout proposed by the physical director. Explain what its merits or deficiencies are.

4. What changes have taken place in the program of physi

cal education in high schools which affect the planning of gymnasiums?

5. How would you propose to provide natural lighting for this gymnasium?

6. What problems of floor construction are confronted in the planning of a gymnasium?

7. Do you agree with the superintendent of schools that a running track is essential? If not, why not?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

HADDEN, G. Space vs. Sports. American Physical Education Review, p. 228, May, 1922.

JALLADE, L. E. Physical Education Buildings for Educational Institutions, Part I, Gymnasium and Lockers. Society of Directors of Physical Education in Colleges, 129 Lexington Avenue, New York City.

Layout and Equipment of Playgrounds. The Playground and Recreation Association of America, New York City, February, 1921.

WILLIAMS, J. F. The Organization and Administration of Physical Education. Macmillan, 1923.

PROBLEM 94

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

Problem: The school grounds of Home City, N. K., are equipped with playground apparatus of various kinds. On January 19, according to a newspaper report, the school board ordered all playground slides removed from playgrounds because of serious injury to three children within a period of ten days. The three children injured suffered fractured skulls from falls from the topmost slides. Other accidents have occurred on other forms of playground apparatus. The superintendent desires to formulate a policy covering the nature of playground apparatus to be installed in the future and the conditions under which it shall be used.

In Home City, a city of 10,000 people, the school playgrounds are the only playgrounds which have been equipped with apparatus. They are the only places where children can play. The school buildings are small and the apparatus has been used very largely during recess periods of the morning and afternoon. Children have sometimes congregated about the school before and after school hours and have found it possible to use the apparatus during these periods. Because of the condition of the grounds in rainy seasons, the policy has been to provide concrete bases for the playground apparatus. Giant strides, swings of various kinds, see-saws, ocean waves, and slides have been types of apparatus installed.

Assignment

1. What recommendations would you, as superintendent of schools, make for future installations on these playgrounds or for alterations in the present installations?

2. What recommendations would you make concerning the preparation of soil of the playgrounds?

3. What arrangements would you plan concerning the apparatus utilization and the supervision of children during these periods?

4. Name the various forms of playground apparatus which can be used on school playgrounds. Indicate the satisfactory and objectionable features of each.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BERG, H. O. The School as the People's Clubhouse. U. S. Bureau of Education, Physical Education Series, No. 6, 1925, Washington, D. C.

CURTIS, H. S. Education Through Play. Macmillan, 1915.

Playground Equipment. Playground, 7:301-29, November, 1913.

School Grounds and Play. U. S. Bureau of Education, Bulletin, 1921, No. 45, Washington, D. C.

GROSS, T. A. Playground Equipment. American School Board Journal, 44:30, 32, May, 1912.

HUNT, J. L. A Catalogue of Play Equipment. Bureau of Educational Experiments, New York, Bulletin No. 8, 1918.

HUTCHINSON, D. Preparation of School Grounds for Play Fields and Athletic Events. U. S. Bureau of Education, Physical Education Series, No. 1, 1923. Washington, D. C.

METZDORF, A. E. Laying Out Playgrounds. Playground, 11:277-82, August, 1917.

TURNER, C. K. The School Playground. Teaching, 1:4-14, December 15, 1914. WARD, D. Developing the Playgrounds of a Small City. American School Board Journal, 45:8-9, September, 1912.