In connection with the social service work now being planned on an extensive scale at the Philips Brooks House, T. A. Gibson, of Trinity Church, an authority on social welfare work, made the following statement in an interview with the CRIMSON yesterday; "Boys' clubs are not so troublesome to manage as is generally believed, if a few definite principles on running games are observed. A supervisor should be persistent in providing a varied program at each gathering of his club. If this presented in a regular fashion, no disorder need be anticipated."
To Speak at P. B. H.
Mr. Gibson is scheduled to speak at Phillips Brooks House tonight at 7.30 o'clock under the auspices of the St. Paul's Society of Boston. He will give entertainment programs and demonstrations of games suitable for boys' clubs to all Harvard men interested in social service. F. C. Lawrence '20 and W. C. Hicks, of St. Paul's Cathedral, will also give talks tonight.
"It has been my experience," Mr. Gibson continued, "that at about this time of the year many men in the University have a desire to help society, but feel unequipped to do so. Or again, they may feel that a boy's club will be unmanageable, beyond their powers to keep entertained and interested.
Program is Vital Factor
"As a matter of fact the only thing necessary to get results in this work, is to have a definite program planned before each meeting."
So saying, Mr. Gibson produced an impressive array of mass games, competition games, stories, sleight-of-hand tricks, easy dramatic performances, and a listed series of outdoor activities to illustrate his statement.
"There is a wealth of material here for anyone who is puzzled what to do in the way of providing a fresh program each week," he went on. "It is not only to teach the boys team play and sportsmanship that these service clubs are formed, but to give them contact with college men. In my estimation, the value of this work is just as great for the leader as for the boys. It teaches the college men to be punctual, prepared, and interested in his work.
The opportunity for getting experience so widely separated from his academic work is of inestimable worth to the undergraduate."
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