Show i ithrwintaidir jgpnrts Are I I iLtttttlldttl1lttt rf iRtgulatiott I By JOHN P CASEY llciilniitter English high School Doiton HE effect of the growth of athletic sports in secondary school T has been beneficial in that it has compelled school authorities authori-ties to enact and enforce legislation for the proper direction of these sports Athletics left to themselves wore developing along lines which did not promote scholarship n spirit of sportsmanship and fair play high sense of honor or even I common honesty Boys have a strong reuse ot justice 1 which answers to proper apppnli and when properly handled by those whom they respect they are easily led l They have therefore accepted ac-cepted the changed conditions without objection and even accepted severe se-vere restrictions imposed nt first without authority School boards also I in placing athletics under school management have rccognied tho fact that they thereby assumed duties toward athletics these duties they have performed by supplying medical inspection in physical training City schools need properly equipped play grounds Nearly nil athletic ath-letic sports take place out of doors and while in consequence of their youth and fine physical condition most young athletes are able to endnio present conditions some suffer from the lack of opportunities properly Ito care for themselves after vigorous exercise s In considering the effect which athletics as now developed have we must remember that to the student body as a whole athletics form an important and desirable school feature and wo must also consider what would be the effect if athletics were discountenanced or forbidden Athletic teams should be given credit for their willingness to conform con-form to regulations and to assist the school authorities in their efforts to keep sports clean Improper conduct on the part of players is rare at present The behavior of spectators at the games and on the street is not always just what it should be but this is a matter for police rather than for school control The eligibility rules when properly enforced require fair scholarship scholar-ship and good character at all times with the result that pupils who used to come to school for athletics only now stay away members of teams who neglect their lessons in their zeal for sport become ineligible in games like football and basket ball where it is difficult to distinguish between accidental and intentional injury selfcontrol must ho practiced Moreover tho teachers who have charge of the games have in their intimate in-timate association with the boys on the field far greater opportunities for the exercise of personal influence than in the classrooms And if these are men of high principles in sympathy with the boys and liked by them and no others ought to be intrusted with this work they can develop in the athletes the very principles of courage endurance selfreliance and selfcontrol which go toward making the best manhood man-hood The question of professionalism docs not disturb the secondary schools very much We find some tendencies to graft and occasional thefts but even in this there is an improvement On tho whole it seems to me that the present rules for the control of athletics ath-letics have worked well and when wisely if wise-ly enforced the results are satisfactory J to all parties |