Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-02
ATHLETICS HELPFUL
Teachers Find Scholars Are Ben.
efitsd by Such Sport as
Football.
TRY TO OVERCOME OBJECTIONS
Parents Asked to Examine Into
System in Vogue at
Local School.

In few instances parents of stu
dents at the local high school offer
objections TO their sons taking part
in football contests. Various grounds
for the objections are raised, some
claiming the sport brutal, others real
OF fancied PHYSICAL weakness on the
part of the boys and still others
object TO the associations into which
the game throws their sons La view
Of this Principal DarbJ asks that such
parents take the trouble 10 examine
into the system for the government
of athletics which has been in vogue
during the past two seasons at the
Rock Island high school
In the first pace the faculty of tue
high school encourages the most
heslthful forms cf athletics on the.
ground that they are beoe6cisl to
thuse VINO engage in them. both phys
icaily and morally. In the second
place 1t Is recognized th9u some form
of athletic sports will be folio ed by
the pupils either with or without the
AID direction of tie
teachers. Foot 5all will be played it Is
argued, because it is ex ting sport
ana other schools and colleges play
it Where the pupils make their
own rules Of government and train
ing the results are not al vays all that
q, nd b. desired from a pay zeal
stand point. and even less so from u
moral one.
To Encourage aud Control sports.
- ha hn he
faculty of the high school has
thought il better to enc 3urage sports
within reasonable lines and TO retain
control of them to a greater or less
degree To this end the athletic as
sociation was formed including as
members all of either sex who cared
or were able Co take part in any form
of athletics This association has it's
own officers anu makes its wn by-
la VS. but the teachers take an active
part in the administration Of it at
fairs. For instance this year Prof.
Blyman is physical director of tie
org nization and Prof Brown i the
coach of the football team
In football practice as in that of
any game requiring scientific skill,
one or more IF the instructors in
variably accompany the bo}s. They
are counse led and guided and guarded
from over exertion, the principal al n
icing to inculcate love for pure,
manly sport. Logging and half
hearted work is discouraged here as
much as it is in the school room If
a boy does not show the pop, r spirit
he is not allowed to play. ami if on
the 9TH T hand, he shows DISPOSE
ton to neglect his school work for
the sake of sport, he is accorded the
same treatment. Taere is a physi-
clan chosen by the association to ex-
anime the candidates for athletic hon.
ors and none are admitted to hard
practice who have not certificates
from this physician. DR.. F H. First
now otIiciates in this capacity and of
the 20 boys he has examined so far
this season three have been refused
the necessary permits
How Association Is Con Quoted.
The manner of transactiDg the bus
mess nf the association furnishes a
valuable lesson in practical # airs for
the mem bers. The constitution is
explicit and is followed to the letter.
The organization is self supporting
through small dues and the collection
of gate receipts at the games played.
The teachers stand personally respou
sible for the payment of all obliRa-
tions incurred. That the association
pays it's own way may be judged by
the fact that it had about $3.50 worth
of apparatus fully paid for that was
destroy ed in the high school fire last
winter. Last spring another start
had to be made. and it will be some
time before full outfit is again ac-
cumulated.
Through the supervision of the
teachers, both in practice at home
and when away to meet opposing
teams, cleaner sport and greater pro-
ficiency has been secured. Through +.
the rules of the association all prop 4.
erty when once secured has been care |
fully accounted for and saved from |
year to year, thus preventing the de-
spelling If the entire outfis by the
class at the end of each
school year, as was formerly common. i