The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-31
WOULD KILL OFF ALL GAMES
CUSSED IRE SUBJECT HAD
THEIR WAY
FROF. BROOKS DIDN'T KNOW
oHaeers for Next Year-Seeend Dmv
OF the State Educational Asso-
citation.

DPSeSAhASJ Interchangeable aInIGCICS and
contests, We're frowned upon by the in
structors present at the meeting Of
the college section Of the Minnesota
Educational association yesterday aft
efEoon. The general subject was outIfn-
ed in paper by DR.. s. M Kfrkwood. of
Manchester college, who read a paper
entitled How Shall We Promote a
Rational System Of Physical Culture. +"
Dr. kfrkwoods arguments were
somewhat technical, from the stand
point of a medical man. He discussed
the effects of muscular exercise. He
dwelt particularly upon the evil effects
OF entertaining, of violent exercise, and
said that the functions of physical exer-
else which should be aimed at in the
schools, is not to train up ball players
or professionals of any kind General
bodily training is the thing demanded
intelligence, system, organization,
FUNDS and patience are as imperatfvely
required in physical training as in the
training Of engineers, musicians or
philologfans
In connection with the proper mus
cular training of young pupils, DR.
HARDWOOD said that too many pupils
are given work for which they are I'M
lit because their nerve forces especial
Iy adapted for that particular work are
not yet built up. He said children
should not be sent to school before they
are eight years old, and that they
should be required to spend regular
hours IN the gymnasium. Play ground
exercise is not sufficient training for
child.
Prof. HI. T. Yetterboe. Of st. OLAF g
college. led off in the discussion which
followed. He disapproved of all forms
of violent exercise for a student, de-
clared 1t was prejudicfa1 to the best
interests of the student as well as of
the college Intefcolleg iate contests. he
regarded as a positive injury to both
schools and pupil.
Prof. FL. L. Osborn, of HamEine COL
lege, said the matter was one more for
the trustees than for the faculty to
decide and to influence. From a class
room point Of view he regarded the
influence of college athletics as posi-
lively detrimental. Physical culture az
the kind that comes from excessive
exercise Is not benef1cent to the pupiI.
PIANO players who gain the greatest
skill acquire 1T by quiet, regular prac-
t1ce. So with the pupil, the best form
or exercise Is that which Is quiet
steady, persistent, but not disturbing
the mental powers. Especially did he
notice last spring, when the excitement
of the annual athletic contests was on.
that the classroom work of the pupils
fell off materially. Such excitement.
noticeable alike in those who psrttei
pate in the games and others who are
spectators. but interested in the honor
or the athletic standing of the school.
Is unfaVorable to the best class work
Prof. Waldstron, of Gustavus Adolf
phus college, said he regarded college
athletics as they exist, necessary evil
He pr1ded himself, however, ON the fact
that his college had never competed in
any intercollegiate games. He had not
frowned upon the local contests be-
tween the pupils Of his college and the
athletic teams of other local schools.
but he objected to, and always. would.
the training of teams for base ball, foot
ball or any other sport where the
players We're obliged to give up valu>
able time in training for events that
could not bring any honor to the col
lege and that were in reality a det-
riment to the pupils
Prof. A. E. Haines. who has written
long and intelhgentfy on this topic.
Is an uncompromising enemy of inter
collegiate contests. Yesterday he
reviewed briefly his objections. II be-
l1eve such contests are positively det-
rimental,' he said. ut sets the Wrong
ideal for the student. The idea Of
beating some one else in a contest Of
mere physical skill and strength is
too low a standard for the genuine
student. The discussion of this quest
ion belongs right here with us. for I
believe that the colleges and higher
schools af learning are to determine
this question definitely for the lower
schools, and determine what the stand
ard of excellence shall be-athletics or
mental culture
The system Of training required and
observed at the several colleges was
repoted by representatives as follows:
At Carleton students are required to
take regular course in light gym
naStics, and are required to pass a
physical examination on entering the
college. This rule applies to the women
as well as the male students
Hamline has no regular course, but
violent exercise OF all forms Is dis
cOuraged.
Gustavus Adolphus has no fixed rule,
but the competitive exercises are
frowned upon.
st. Olaf's has a compulsory drill at
the fall term and medical examfna-
ten.
DR.. Brooks said he didn't know any
thing about the state university, ex-
cept, he believed from the noise he
heard on the campus at times, he had
an idea that some forms Of exercise
that could hardly be classed as light
gymnasium work, was going on.
Prof. Haines insisted that football
is not physical training, and the CUES
ton was passed for the time The
general sentiment was undoubtedly
against all forms of competitive games
as now followed by the athletic teams
of the great colleges of the country.
Rev. DR.. S. G. Smith, lecturer on
sociology at the state university. then
discussed THE Need of Special Train
ing in Sociology" in a brief but in
teresting address.
DR.. Smith defined sociology as the
science Of determining the agents, pro-
cesses, results and tendencies Of social
evolution. 1t is not socialism in any
form, especially not Christian social
ism; it is not theology; it is not a re-
form, but is rather g. science. The ques-
ton arises, the speaker said, Is the
field wide enough to demand this new
science He said further:
Sociology is not the same as political
economy, as politics, or as the philosophy of
history, yet it embraces all Of these 1t is
one of the great biological sciences. First
in their order, we have biology, then zoology,
the science of animal life; then anthropology
the science of man. and, finally pbilology
and sociology the highest science of man.
In the future geography will take rank as
one of the greatest of studies including
it does, the distribution and growth of
nations, their political and social life, and
all the forms of study that is embraced in the
word sociology.
Discussion of the subject was limited
as the hour was late when DR.. Smith
had finished his address.
Officers for the year were chosen as