PALMER, ALASKA ' DOROTHY Mv BELL Editor
»- / I ''■ * ^ ^ "t ■* \
Published every Friday at Palmer, Alaska, for the Mritanuska '/alley
Farmers' Cooperating Association for the purpose of giving news of the
Associations work, problems, and accomplishments.
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YOUTH RECREATION PROGRAM
Evidently others have problems similar to ours. The following is
copied from' the"Montnna Farmers Union News" and was written by Edna
Host ether.
Teen age .boys and girls are having a tough time at a tough time,
‘■’others and farthers are busier than they have ever been. Brothers and
friends ore serving in the armed forces. History is being made and they
are being .left out. The whole world -is crumbling, around them. They are
living in an adult' world. There are plenty of taverns in town, but not
a place of their own where kids of their own age can gather and eat,
dance, and visit and have good wholesome fun.
Several, attempts have been made' in our- town to get something lined up
for the young people. It all seemed to lack adult support and soon died
out.
This fall, at a meeting of the school board, representatives of vari
ous civic groups were invited to help discuss plans for recreation for
the young people. The school board gave permission to use the gymnasium
when it was not is use for athletics, and any of the rest of the school
facilities.
The need of adult supervision'was stressed and'the'help of a trained
recreation director. We suggested enlisting Martha Schrieber's help and
the group gladly accepted. Martha agredd to come to Conrad to help vi th
the recreation program and stay on for three or four days for. fieldwork
and officers training school.
Martha arrived November ‘30, and we vi sitied the', high school teachers
who were interested in the recreation program. We then attended Junior
High assembly where Martha talked to the gro'up on plans for their par.ty
which wr-s scheduled for that evening. .
At the Junior High party there were about a hundred noisy youngs-ers
who had had very little, if any, supervised recreation. They plaved
several' game's such as "musical chairs"' rnd relay races, then the rest of
the even.ing was turned ov-er to Martha to direct folk dancing. With the
help of about six teachers-, we were able to teach two or three, such as
"Topsy","Grand March",*and "Shoo-Fly." Our biggest trouble was to get
them to quiet down long enough-to listen to directions, and much time
tins lost because so mr.ny didn't Know wnat was expected oi tnem. mwever,
by the time the evening was over, they learned to obey the ‘"quiet" sigr
nal and were really enjoying the games. It would take several t-venings
to really cive them the full benefit of Supervised recreation,
Friday noon Martha conducted recreation for the entire group of boys
and girls who stay at the school building during the noon hour, those
who come In on the bus and eat at the lunch room.
Student-.sssonibly. was held* In the high school-.ho Martha oould talk to
them on the plans of a future recreational center and the need of a
Student governing board and adult advisory committee. Plans were talked
Over for the high school party to be held after the basket ball game.
Friday evening.
While the game was going on,* Martha and I met with the group, of-young
girls who had graduated from this school a couple of years ago, and were
now working in offices down town. This was sort of a training school for
these girls who could help supervise recreation in the future, to le.arrj
so me of the folk dances and get acquainted with available recreation
material, *
The high school party-after the game was quite a success. Martha
taught the schottische, the polka step and with the help of an old time
square dance caller, tried a couple of quadrille changes. The big gym
nasium floor was full of kids, about eight sets, all eager to learn. So
few young people know the alemande left and grand right and left those
days and It takes a while to tench it. It- is best to* have a demonstr^tlot
set on the stage or alone on the dance floor, to show how it is done.
To be continued next weeV«