Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-15


course are two matters dwelt upon at
considerable length in the annual re-
port Of Principal Fransworth G..
Marshall of Cony High school, which
appears in the second annual report
Of the Board Of Education just issued.
In regard to athletics Principal
Marshall says:
while the policy Of the school is to
encourage athletics | feel that the
high school athletics of our school and
of nearly every school in the State are
conducted on an entirely false princi-
Pile At present high school athletics
have but one important end, that of
victory in interschoastic contests.
The result is that not more than 20
students receive any direct benefit.
The same boys make up the football,
baseball and basket ball teams. These
boys are the largest and strongest in
the school and the ones that need
physical exercise the least. The re-
mander of the school, who nee
physical exercise the most, receive abb
sOlutely no benefit from our present
athletic system.
"A modern high school to remedy
this serious condition needs a PHYSICAL
instructor to conduct work in physical
culture. which every student should be
required to take. 1t needs 4
gymnasium, where such a course can
be advantageously pursued. This Is
especially necessary in Augusta,
where in a city Of 1900 inhabitants
no opportunity for gymnastic work is
offered.
1.-The principal athletic activity Of
such a school would be in the direc-
ton of class contests, where every
student would have an opportunity.
Under such a system as I have briefly
outlined all the students would derive
the fullest possible good and athletics
would become a benefit rather than q
detriment to school life. Inter-
scholastic contests would play some
part in such a system. as they create
an interest in sport not obtainable in
any other way, but they would not be
the end of athletic work, and would
lose much of their present Importance.
Such a system is without doubt
possible for Augusta. if not at present.
at least in the near future. With the
present addition to the school build
| ing 50 near completion we can safely
say that the intellectual needs of I'll"
school will be amply provided for dur
| ing the next 25 years To provide for
it's physical needs a new gymnasium
on the Williams field and the services
of a physical instructor are almost
absolute necessities. Then tho
athletic system can be reorganigZed
and step can be taken i'm the direc-
ton Of that educational ideal so often
talked about and SO seldom realized, a
sound mind in a sound body.
THE school has supported teams in
basketball. baseball and football. The
school assembly has provided a fine
basketball cup to be awarded each
year for six years to the class winning
the annual championship at tn
Chizzle Wizzle fair The school is
hindedred somewhat in it's interschol-
astic contests by being obliged 70
compete with teams. which have no
definite eligibility rules. 1t is Il ease
however of playing such teams or not
playing at all The enforcement of
our rules no doubt robs us of some
athletic victories, but victory obtained
by lowering the standard of scholar
ship is not desirable
or the new Commercial course
Principal Marshall says:
1.-THE new commercial course ha :
been in operation for six months and
it's place in the school is already we'll
defined. Every precaution is being
taken to prevent the mistake made in
so many high schools of allowing the
tn ri n ,ny,s
to fall below that of other courses.
The course as now conducted is fully
up to the standard of the other courses
and it's students should be prepared to
do efficient work in commercial lines.
Such policy is a disadvantage to 4
few students, who come to the course
without sufficient preparation. but
am convinced that it is the only safe
policy to insure an efficient COM
mercial department. An average of IA
students have been enrolled in this
work The number will be increased
to 60 with the incoming class. That
number will be the maximum for some
years. AS the novelty of the new
course wears away fewer students
will elect it. About one-fifth of the
total enrolment will always be found
in this course. There appears to be
demand in the city for shor,
course in commercial subjects to be
finished in one year Such a course
| cannot be defended from an educa-
tional viewpoint. On the ground OF
expediency there is something to be
said for it. 1t would be valuable for
those students, who think that they
cannot afford to attend High school
for longer period. and who now at
tend no school after they leave the
grammar school, If any number Of
such students could be attracted by a
short commercial course it would be
a valuable addition-to the curriculum
Many OF those so attracted would re-
main longer, and even one year of the
drill and discipline of the High school
is worth much to the student who