The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-06-05

so pure or water so refreshing The
boys and girls in bleak New England
| OF encrvating Georgia, or miasmatic
Texas, arc hardly to be blamed II they
| become houseplants: but this is Gods
country, whose immense distances
| should tempt us to stretch our legs
as well as our minds, and whose blue
sky and sunny days are a perpetual
reminder of tho gifts Dame Nature
has to bestow upon those bold enough
to WOO her.
Here, perhaps. some conservative
flnancicr may question, then why Il
gymnasium and special training? Let
Nature do the work and let us save
our money. To which we reply, Ma
ture will not do the work. Nature only
suggests; she is too Indifferent to en-
force: Nature is not q teacher or a
coach: she is Dower-a philoso-
pher: tremendous incentive, but she
expects man TO do the work and to
furnish the money.
In our democratic country the OK
cessive development of individuality
sometimes seems TO interfere with the
proper development Of civic patriot
Ism. However, the get together" pol.
icy is foStered In each public school
In every way. The varied activities
In connection with high school life
cultivate the social forces. Every
high school must have Its entertain
mcnts, parties and dramatics. They
must also have their athletic sports
These are centered chiefly in football,
baseball basketball. tennis and track
work, Every student is especially in.
terested In track meets; every NOM
Der of the scnool loves to cheer his
team on the football field
A physical education is indeed an
essential part of the school training
No one doubts the benefits of physical
culture and gymnastics when they are
performed during regular hours under
the efficient supervision of skilled in
structors. Athletics afford a rest for
the mind and form an important part
Of the mutual development. All lead
ing universities and colleges have
course In athletics which Is compul-
Sorry unless the student is physically
unable.
In Ogden there is n positive lack
of gymnasium facilities to which high
school students have access. Unlike
other cities of its size, Ogden contains
no Y. M. c. A. establishment, which
always includes gymnasium. In
spite OF the fact that Utah has a H.
brary and gymnasium board for the
purpose of establishing libraries and
gymnaSiums in all the towns and VII
lagos of Utah, we doubt If the honor
able members of this state board even
know Of our eagerness to acquire a
gymnasium. Our civic pride In Og-
den urges us to look most carefully
after its interests, and If this state
board has any money to distribute.
let us at least lose no time in asking
for our share.
The fact that the high school does
not possess a gymnasium does not re-
fleet on the board of education. The
reflection Is on the community. When
the people OF Ogden show that 1t is
their wish tnat the high school have
a gymnasium and provide the neces-
sary financial support, the board of
education will work heartily to fulfill
the demands Of the people.
And now. in behalf of the high
school as a whole, especially the
classes Of '0S 1-2 and '09. and also
those lucky boys and girls who are
to study IN the new hign school build
ing. and also the community, / urge
Immediate, mutual and earnest action
upon this question.