New-York tribune., 1909-12-09
BAN ON FOOTBALL
BOARD OF EDUCATION
NEARLY UNANIMOUS.
Game Mast Not Be Played in
Public Schools after
January 1.

With only three members dissenting.
the Board of Education. at its regular
meeting yesterday afternoon. adopted
resolution on the recommendation Of the
board Of superintendents which forbids
football in the public schools after jan
uary 1. 1910. James E. Sullivan. mem
Der of the board and formerly president
OF the American Amateur Athletic Union.
opposed the resolution. and his attack
on the board Of superintendents and the
measure provoked responses from mem
bers OF the Board of Education which
were characterized by sarcasm and per-
sonalities.
Il hoped that this subject would be
treated In a sane and dignified manner"
said Mr.. Sullivan. but IL seems that all
sorts of extraordinary means have been
resorted TO to have this resolution
passed. The superintendents by taking
up this football matter gave us a chance
TO criticise them. and we should watch
anything they propose in the future. II
looks to me like a limelight proposition.
an effort to get themselves into print.
why. they don't even know the name
of the game. They call il the American
or college Rugby football. and ii is the
Rugby football which we want and the
other is the one which is meant TO oe
abolished. That is a joke resolution
This board won't trust the rules COM
mittee which is going to change the rules
so as to make the game less dangerous.
but il is 10 accept the recommendation
of men who do not even know the name
of the game which they want to abolish"
WANTS DECISION DELAYED.
Mr.. Sullivan then said that the ques-
tion should be referred TO a committee
on athletics. which 1t was proposed the
president should appoint, and should not
be decided finally until the intercollegiate
committee on rules had an opportunity
TO amend the rules of the game.
A motion 10 postpone the debate until
the next meeting was defeated and
Frederic r Coudert rose to answer Mr..
Sullivan. Mr.. Coudert said that he did
not think that the members of the high
school committee. which recommended
the resolution. We're as hopelessly be-
4A4oilNVu III tllC Iidlbtl VI dluAEllCS dS TIC
athletic member" wanted TO imply.
Il do not think that football helps ath-
letics." he continued, "and my opinion is
indorsed by men who have looked into
this question thoroughly, There were
twenty-seven deaths this year as a re-
suit OF football and innumerable injuries.
1t is not the intention of athletics TO de-
81 hut 70 ,h-S farttIffaS
and football is destructive.
Football develops qualities which are
far from commendable. I understand
that If a man has been injured in a GER
tain place and therefore weakened in
that spot. the other students Of anatomy
carefully seek out that s OF to disable
him again"
John Greene asked for the abolition OF
the game, which he said had ceased TO be
football. but ought TO be called handball-
He said that the high school committee
had decided upon the abolition only after
long consideration. "The game" he said,
creates a desire 10 MAIN, and il does
not foster courage. AS the trustees for
the children Of the public schools We
should not stand for this game
MR. SULLIvAN'S SECRET.
Robert L. Harrison devoted his atten-
tion to Mr.. Sullivan. Il asked him." he
said. what the game is called. He re-
fused 10 tell me. l suppose it is a secret
or something that he cannot mention in
the presence of the ladies. He knows il
all. but what he knows is a profound Sc
cret"
Mr.. Harrison then compared the foot
ball games with the fights Of the gladia-
tors in ancient Rome. substitute res
olution offered by him was voted upon
and adopted. II says:
Resolved. That the playing of the
game known as the American or college
Rugby football under the rules at pres
ent existing by the pupils in the public
schools OF the city of New York be pro-
hibited from and after January /. 1910.
and that all principals and teachers be
instructed 10 use every effort within
their power TO prevent the playing OF said
game by the pupils under their juris-
diction.
nm nouo