Eugenics and the playground movement

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to scrutinize the Playground Movement through the lens of eugenics. The theoretical relationship was clear because of the dominant influence of inheritance-driven theories that stressed the role of play in developing desirable traits. Progressive Era emphasis on race betterment provided an optimal environment for the use of eugenic practices to correct flawed members of society; the emphasis on guided play satisfied this need. Playground leaders were also challenged by threats to its credibility from sequestration measures – ugly laws and discrimination. This forced them to defend play using instrumental definitions and caused them to acquiesce to segregated arrangements for the defective and diverse of society at times. Eugenic-like strategies were reflected in trying to normalize development of children through retracing the evolutionary trail of the race, altering future generations’ DNA profile, and as an attempt to repair the faults and failings of the current generation.

KEYWORDS:

• Eugenics
• playground movement
• progressive era
• ‘separate but equal’
• race betterment
• ugly laws

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Kenneth E. Mobily is Professor with the Department of Health and Human Physiology at the University of Iowa.

Notes

1 Galton's cousin was Charles Darwin (Davis 2013).

2 See B. F. Skinner's (1948) ‘Walden Two’.

3 The term refers to eugenics and the advancement of selective breeding.

4 Clark Hetherington, Joseph Lee, Luther Gulick and Curtis (Knapp and Hartsoe 1979) developed the ‘Normal Course in Play’ to train playground leaders.

5 ‘Feeble-minded’ was a phrase used during the Progressive Era and Industrial Revolution to refer not only to people with intellectual impairments, but also to epilepsy and even to those who were unable to support themselves. It was also often associated with “moral failing and as such could include malingerers, alcoholics and prostitutes.

6 Howard Braucher succeeded Curtis as secretary of the PAA in 1909. Prior to serving the PAA, Braucher was the secretary of Associated Charities of Portland (Maine) from 1905 to 1909. The Portland branch was affiliated with the COS, which endorsed ‘scientific’ giving in preference to ‘chaotic handouts’ (Schweik 2009). There was a difference between deserving poor and malingering. ‘Friendly visitors’ were recruited to evaluate the validity of a claim for assistance. They were known to employ ‘labor tests’ to identify impostures (Schweik 2009). The visitors sometimes even took it upon themselves to find employment for the unemployed but able. In Braucher's case, his success at prosecuting the COS's agenda was recognized:

The number of dependent families for the city [of Portland, Maine] which was four years ago approximately 1,500, is now less than 800, and is decreasing. A large body of friendly visitors [emphasis added] has been enlisted [by Braucher] in constructive work with families. (The Survey, 1909, 303)

7 Ironically, Butler noted that Braucher accepted the position of secretary of the PAA on the condition that it promote recreation and play regardless of race, religion, or gender.

8 Joseph Lee had been a vigorous advocate for immigration restrictions for several decades by the time the law passed (Cavallo 1981; Knapp and Hartsoe 1979) and a member and vice president of the Immigration Restriction League.

9 PAA was renamed to the Playground and Recreation Association of America (PRAA) in 1911.

10 Some eugenic advocates at the time also opposed involvement in the war because it sacrificed the ‘best’ and ‘fittest’ of the nation and preserved the weak to reproduce (Kuhl 2013).