The San Francisco call., 1910-04-27

- o-OfiiiSAiN u Tie gin u tilO PooiiS
schools. Mrs. l.. A. Hayward and Mrs.
Lowell White both express themselves
deeply concerned in this phase of their
work as members of the playground
commission, and both will be in at
tendance at the meeting to be called by
President Bannerman.
Need More Athletics
Principal George A. Merrill of the
Lick high school declares that the
present decline of the school athlete is
due to the lack of systematic training
AFFORDED in the public institutions of
learning. In theu Inmates ocialization
of the high school, in which the pres
ent movement is, he insists, step, he
sees the rescue of the boys from the
present slough of neglect Enthusiastic
ally indorsing thei Individual athletic
trainer and thee redit system, he ex-
presses it as his opinion that much
more time should be given the stu
dents out of doors, in large stadiums
erected near the high schools
The right chord has been struck," "
said he yesterday. The entire system
of high school training needs revolu-
tionizing. Under present conditions
there are too many distractions to call
the boys attention away from the
healthy atmosphere Of the school life.
In a great city like ours there are too
many temptations to draw him away.
If We do not make up for this we must
expect to lose that vitality which loss
was evidenced at the track meet last
Saturday. Too much attention can not
be given the physical welfare of the
students, and at the present time too
little is being accorded it.
The Call is launching a movement
which should work a great benefit to
the youth of our city, and If progress
is made ealong the lines suggested we
can look for victorious track teams In
stead of vanquished ones. However,
the fault of present conditions does not
rest with the boys. They have no facili-
ties. They are constantly working un-
der great handicaps against their coun-
try contestants. IL is certainly high
time the principals of the schools got
together and devised uniform system
of physical training. The movement is
vitally important; too important to be
neglected for a moment, and I heartily
indorse the suggestions SO far made.
The first word of complaint to be ut
tered by the plueky youngsters who
went out in the field Saturday against
such terrific odds was uttered yester
day by r. K. Rogers, the star per-
former of the Lick team.
SCHOOLS DISORGANIZED
"The teams of the city schools are
almost hopelessIy lost in the present
disorganized conditions which surround
them" said he with the park stadium
miles from the high schools and no i'm
mediate facilities with which to de-
velop, the prospect is certainly dis
couraging. We have no time to make
a long trip to the park, and no instruc-
ton when we get there if we did go.
The other teams have their regular
physical directors, while we are forced
to depend on volunteer coaching from
one of the universities. With small
schoolyard space, no gymnasium and no
systematic training. we must expect
decline"
Rogers lowered the interscholastic
record Saturday in the 220 yard dash,
establishing the time of :22 2-5 for the
event He also has the bay counties
league record in that event, and has
tied the Amateur athletic league and
San Francisco league time in the 220
and 100 yard dash. He was the only
entrant among all the San Francisco
teams to win first place.
g II am convinced of the truth in the
arguments advanced and feel, with the
tention should be given the physical
training of the high school Students,
said Principal Morton of Lowell yes
terday I'm the city there are too many
attractions to draw the boys away from
school life. Some effort must be made
to hold them. Instead of having them
invade the pool rooms and nickelodeons
we must offer them inducements at
school to keep them from unhealthy as
sociations. / believe The Call has ad-
vanced splendid idea which should
be acted upon at once. The suggestion
of individual athletic instructors, more
play grounds and high school credits
for track work should immeasurably
contribute to the rejuvenation of our
school athletic enthusiasm A mass
meeting is a good idea and will have
the effect of getting the department
and the students in touch with each
other"
TIME TO ACT
Now is the time to get together"
said President Bannerman yesterday.
Lets hit the iron while it's hot and do
something for the boys. Let us listen
to their cause We have witnessed
their efforts and now must remedy the
conditions their failure reflect. A mass
meeting will put us in touch with the
evils of the present system, and then
we can intelligently remedy them
In sending out the call for the meet
ing President Bannerman will direct
invitations to President William p.
Humphrey of the Olympic club, Sidney
S. Peixotto, president of the Pacific
Athletic association, the members of
the Fairgrounds commission and the
members of the track teams of the
different high schools. An attempt will
be made to have Frank Boke of Oak
land attend and give an exposition of
the system now being used In that
place. Plans will then be formulated
by which some credit system can be
uniformly adopted in the city high
af inc fffrn tors.
presented to the proper municipal au-
thorities. In the budget of expenses
to be allowed for the coming fiscal
year the board of education has asked
for but $4,000 for athletics" An at
tempt will be made to have the board
of supervisors raise this amount to
10000, so that gymnasium equipment
can be nurchas God for tho four schools