Seven

CHILDREN AND SCHOOL DAYS

PUBLIC SCHOOL 104. This wonderful photograph shows some of the boys and girls of one of the city’s many public schools.

POOR BUT HAPPY. The children, photographed by Jacob Riis, received assistance from New York’s Children’s Aid Society. (Museum of the City of New York.)

TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK IN 1904. Located in the Lower East Side, Tompkins Square Park had a quite mixed ethnic community that included Irish, Italian, and Jewish immigrants as well as Anglo-Americans.

STREET CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. As seen here, the NYPD closed some streets so that a neighborhoods’ many children could enjoy their games without danger.

STREET GAMES. The picture above shows teenaged boys playing their favorite ball game. Below, younger children are playing other games. Among the more popular games were tag, follow the leader, blindman’s bluff, stickball, handball, skully, hopscotch, and box ball.

BACKYARD GAMES. Above, some girls are playing on a seesaw while, below, other ones play ring-around-the-rosy or a similar game.

BACKYARD SWING. On a winter’s day, a crowd of boys and girls play on a swing while others hold hands in a circle.

GROUP DANCING. Girls and boys enjoyed games such as these.

A SMALL CIRCLE OF DANCERS. Teachers taught youngsters how to play together safely. Activities included dancing and games.

GROUP PICTURE. These children have gathered around a swing to have their photograph taken.

OUTDOOR CLASSES. On hot days, educators taught children in the fresh air. Teachers often read stories to the children and, in the case of girls, had them practice their sewing and knitting, as seen in the photograph below.

FIELD TRIP DAY. These youngsters are returning on a bus to their homes in Harlem after spending a day in the country, sponsored by the Children’s Aid Society. The picture was taken in 1932.

NEWSPAPER BOY. Poor children worked in all sorts of street jobs in Manhattan. Here a young news boy is on the watch for customers. (National Park Service.)