The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-13
ATHLETICS ARE BARRED
NO MORE FOOTBALL AT THE HIGH
SCHOOL OF LOGANsPORT.
Social Functions Also Are Taboo-The
Board Declares Them to Have Been
Inimical to the School.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LOGANSPORT, Ind, Sept. R.-Displeased
over the action of the city School Board and
the superintendent and principal Of the
Logansport High School in placing almost
prohibitory restrictions on athletics and So
cial functions among the High School stu
dents, several young men were seen early
this morning trying to hang in effigy the
school officials from the cupola of the
High School building. but being detected in
the act by a pedestrian they abandoned the
undertaking and escaped. This Is believed
to be only the beginning of the series of
protests that are expected from the stu
dents against the action Of the school
officials.
authorities the usual social functions and
athletic contests which seemed to have been
q part and parcel of the course in the
Logansport High School will not be toler-
ated this year, and the effect, it is thought.
will be that football and other athletic
sports will be killed as far as the students
of this school are concerned. The mem
bers Of the football team have been denied
the use Of the High School building for the
purpose Of holding their business meetings
and they have been informed by the prin-
cipal and superintendent that school will
not be dismissed, as heretofore, to allow
the members to leave the city TO play or to
entertain visiting high school teams. Last
year the principal would dismiss school in
the afternoon whenever a game was sched-
uled and on practice days the members of
the team would be dismissed at 345 O'Clock
In the afternoon. Now strict orders have
been issued that no one shall be excused
from school until the regular dismissal
hour at 4 o'clock. which the team members
claim is too late to allow them sufficient
practice.
So far no formal complaint has been made
to the school officials, but much dis5astis-
faction has been privately expressed by
students. When interviewed, however,
members of the School Board have mani
tested a willingness to talk, and they say
good of the school. They say that hereto
fore too much time has been given to ath-
letics and social functions and as a result
many Of the students nave fallen far be-
hind in their studies.
Last year." said j. d. McNitt, one of
the members of the School Board, social
events, athletics and high school work were
all in one state OF confusion and IL was
plainly seen that the minds of many OF our
Students were more engrossed with amuse-
ment than with study. We are not OPP
posed TO athletics in their proper place. but
when they distract the students mind from
his studies we are Obliged to call a halt.
Young men who took leading parts in the
sports of last year invariably neglected their
school work and as a result many OF them
did not receive enough credits TO pass them
into the next grade. Patrons of the school
reported several cases OF this kind and we
were obliged 10 look into the matter. We
found that the complaints were only too well
founded. We then decided to institute the
new rules and we believe they are the best,
both for the school and for the students
themselves"