The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1907-02-28
Athletics in High Schools.
MRS. J. w. BUSH.

MRS. ]. w. BUSH.
While have given this most in
teresting subject much thought, the
arguments for and against athletics in
high schools are SO many, it seems
almost too large subject for me with
limited knowledge of athletics, to
grapple with. It would be much easier
to tell you how to administer to a case
of whooping cough, that being fore
most in my mind these past weeks.
But an interest in all games and con-
tests together with very great in
terest in our high school gave me cour-
age to make the almost rash promise
to contribute my ideas, and I give them
to you, as have thought them out on
this most interesting subject at least to
most of us. That l am interested in
all sports, participated in by our
H. S. A. A., has been forcibly demon
strated, more than once, and my words
fail to tell the genuine enthusiasm with
which l watch our bright-eyed, in
terested, and active boys and girls
bounce into the center of the hall for a
rousing game of basket ball. Or of
my keen delight in, watching the plays
in a game of base ball-or still with
greater enthusiasm enter into the con-
test when shaggy heads and dirty and
bruised faces are lined up for game of
football.
Am the only interested one? I
think not and though parents sit with
tense expressions, hands perspiring and
gripped tightly together-weuld you
then rise up and denounce athletics
though defeat overtake us? I am
sure not. And though we groan at the
bumps and bruises, we feel a pride no
one except ourselves can understand.
Many things may be said against
athletics in schools, and we admit that
the privilege has been greatly abused
as well as advantage gained, physically
and mentally. The stand taken by our
faculty in prohibiting nightly practice
of basket ball, should meet with our
hearty approval, no matter how in
teresting the practice, we should use
moderation. It is to Ancient Greece,
the mother of fine arts, literature and
athletics that we look for earliest forms
and fullest development of athletics.
The Greek youths trained for all ath-
letic sports We're central most at all
public gatherings The public games
of Greece apd Rome were athletic con-
tests of various kinds, generally con-
nected with and forming some part of
religious ceremony. Passing from this
we find that the birthdays of our
modern athletics were the great
universities, military and public schools.
It is not to be wondered then, that the
athletic associations of high schools
have become a permanent fixture-and
all our young people have an intelle-
gent understanding of all modern games
though perhaps some physically unable
to take part in them. They are
learning that persons with healthy
bodies are much more apt to succeed
in life, than those without. They learn
that the mind is developed as we'll as
muscle. They learn through athletic
games and contests an admissible con-
troll of temper, and to take defeat in
that spirit, which characterizes our
young men and women of today.
One important idea and one that is
too true, is that athletics may detract
minds from their studies. My honest
opinion is that the grade or standing
obtained in the studies should govern
the privilege of indulging in school ath-
letics games. Humorists and car
toonists have made this subject for
their trade, but as long as athletics in
high school have come to stay do you
think they would find this an incentive?
Again we hear that the mingling Of
our boys and girls in practice games
has tendency to make THAR manner
too free and easy, ''toe tlirty'' has beer
added. The abolishment of athletics
will never abolish that ''old story. .
In our day, dear parents, we had ne
basket bail games but do you remembe,
the singing school the huskin' bees, thu
pairing bees which took our minds as vel
as time? How we would coax our mothers
into letting us off ''just this once" ant
she good soul would do as you do toda!
and tell US to Ego on.'' And you
fathers, would do some extra chores,
to gain your end, though you just hum
around the church door to zee her hom
same as our boys do today.
Co-education has become popular
Women are advancing along with me-
in every profession. Girls are no
physically constructed to enter gam
with boys where physical skill is re
quired but in practice games of baske
ball, tennis, swimming or fencing, woul
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