Editorial-
It is this column’s conviction, as stated on several occasions previously, that one of the first functions of the town’s recreation program should be coordination. The repetition of the point of view is prompted by the fact that remarks made at last week’s selectmen’s meeting indicate that some members of that board are not of the same mind.
Selectman Riley referred to the new Henry 0 Peabody School for Girls handicraft classes including dressmaking, the exercises for health adult education course and Professor Dctlucr’s musical project as encroachments on the town’s recreation program, implying that the Superintendent of Schools was responsible for them and had taken them from the town program.
In the first place, Selectman Riley should have made that charge against the school committee rather than the Superintendent.
The school committee authorized the handicraft classes and the adult education classes, and the school committee gave Professor Dcthier the use of a room in the school building.
In the second place, Selectman Riley ignores the fact that an Adult Evening School has been a part of Norwood’s school system for a good many years and that many people have hoped and worked for the expansion of its program. He also ignores the fact that the obvious expectation of an institution such as the Henry O. Peabody School would be its full use for the benefit of the community. His reference to the fact that the handicraft classes were scheduled in the afternoon when women found it , difficult to attend, shows his ignorance of the actual facts of the ease, they being that the time of classes has been dictated by the problem of heating buildings. Further, it is understood, that Professor Dethier’s project is his own and was news to both the Superintendent and the school committee.
Rather than criticism for these additions to Norwood’s facilities for adult participation, the school committee’s action in promoting them deserves praise. And if the town’s program were one that had in mind coordination and then innovation to meet unfulfilled needs, praise these efforts would have.
Still, to this column’s knowledge, no one of the people or groups concerned with recreation in town has compiled any information as to youth agencies functioning and how many young people they serve, and what age groups. So no one has any accurate conception of what the need actually is and whether it is greater in one age group than another or in one section of town than another.
The recreation program as far as can be seen is being established not on the facts of the situation but upon the hypothesis of needs.
And still, to this column’s knowledge, no one of the people or groups concerned with recreation in town has made any attempt at coordination or at exploring possibilities of expansion within existing facilities.
No one has inquired into the possibilities of expanding the evening school, rather its addition of two courses for adults has merited a backhanded slap from a selectman.
No one has canvassed the possibilities of utilizing the fine equipment and facilities of the Henry 0. Peabody School for adult courses, rather than its initial attempt in this direction, has had a backhanded slap from a selectman.
No one has proposed restoration of the Norwood Choral Society or formation of a community orchestra under cooperative auspices. Again a backhanded slap.
Apparently, too, no one is taking into consideration that again this year, as last, the school committee has authorized intramural basketball at the High School.
Nor has anyone recognized that the Women’s Community Committee and the Red Cross have been for the past few years giving nutrition courses.
If coordination and present facilities were taken into consideration, almost the entire adult, program as outlined by the part-time director, is already organized or could be readily from existing facilities.
Handicrafts, physical education for women, dressmaking, orchestral, choral group, dietetics, and nutrition are among these. There is enough to be done in recreation by the town program without duplication.
Unless the purpose of the town recreation program is to spend money and make jobs, coordination should be its first step. Or is it that a spirit of rivalry has developed as to who is to have credit for the recreation effort- To the citizen and taxpayer, it is of no interest who started what. The citizen and taxpayer is interested only in having a good job done, and a worthwhile job, and in having it done not without spending money, but without wasting money.
If recreation is to succeed in Norwood, it will succeed only with cooperation. It cannot be the selectmen’s baby, or the school committee’s baby, or anyone else’s baby. It must be everybody’s baby It will not thrive on jealousy for credit, or rivalry in effort It will succeed only with community understanding and cooperation and effort.
The fact that selectmen appointed a group to advise with them and then forgot it; the fact they left the playground advisory committee out of recreation deliberations, such as participation in the naming of a recreation director; the fact that a backhanded slap went to the school committee efforts along the adult education line, rather than praise, show that there is something to be desired along cooperative lines.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)