The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-04-29

With cOlors tattered and torn. the
san Francisco school boy athletes have
again planted their standards in the
open arena. They have been suceored
from within the walls Of their city.
and once more the die is cast
Joseph r Hickey. secretary Of the
Fairgrounds commission Of san Fran
cisco. has issued d call for a mass
meeting TO be held in behalf Of the
young athletes at the Mission high
school Wednesday night, and OF which
he is TO be chairman. Backed by a
committee Of citizens and representa-
tive athletic authorities the board Of
education and officials Of the athletic
leagaes OF the city, bay counties and
Pacific coast. the gathering viii mean
lne emancipation of the youth of the
CITY from the obsolete conditions which
surround them.
OTHER CITIES FOR GUIDES
Following the examples of nearly
every large city in the United States
plans VIII be made TO revolutionize
the physical training Of the school chill
dren and place them in a position TO
cope with the overwhelming odds of the
seountry bred contestants. The lesson
mat was given TO the community AT
The interschOlastic meet at Stanford
last Saturday, when all the victories
went to country high school boys. has
aroused to action those who have
charge OF the physical training of the
scho4 children
After consulting with the members
OF the board Of education President
Thomas II. Bannerman sanctioned the
meeting yesterday, and Secretary Jo-
seph r. Hickey Of the Fairgrounds
commission, acting chairman of the
committee Of arrangements, immedi-
auely issued the call The student
bodies Of the various high schools of
e the city viii receive invitations. and
for the first time in their history Will
have an opportunity to plead their
cause in the presence of those in a posi-
ton to assist them.
SPEECHES AT MEETING
The Mission high school gymnasium.
where the meeting will be held viii
accommodate 1900 persons and it is
believed that il viii be filed. Physical
Director Frank Boak of the Oakland
high school is expected to address the
gathering on the system adopted by
him, and speeches viii be made by Of
fcials Of the Amateur athletic league.
Public Schools athletic league Bay
Counties league and Olympic club.
EQuEaTlOn.
the Fairgrounds commission and the
board Of supervisors will be invited to
attend, and il is predicted by those in
strUmental in awakening the new life
in school athletics that in the new city
budget for the next fiscal year. which
begins July /. allowance viii be made
for four physical directors in the high
schools.
Members Of the board of education.
have expressed their approval of the
innovation. and it is probable that the
reform viii be inaugurated immedi-
ately after the summer vacation.
NEEDS OF sCHOoLBOYs
AS the plans for the mass meeting
now stand three subjects will be pre-
scented. 1t is proposed TO ask that ath-
letic instructors be employed in the
high schools, that credits be given TO
the students for work done in the
gymnasium or on the track and that
better playground facilities be provided
for the use Of school children.
In discussing the call and the pur-
poses Of the meeting Hickey said:
we have made one of the most ma
terial strides forward in the history OF
school life ia this city. The ultimate
effect Of the movement will mean the
rescue Of the children from number
Of ancient and popular fallacies. They
have, in this city, been accorded a re
markable degree Of inattention and
the result Of that was seen in the meet
At Stanford Saturday.
BENEFIT OF FAIRGROUNDS
we are miles behind the other large
cities Of the country in the matter of
looking after our children's physical
well being Seattle has p Fairgrounds
in the city occupying an aggregate
space of more than 264 acres The
largest Of these is - acres, while the
smallest is two acres. Thousands of
children use them continuously. and
their physical betterment is directly at
tributed to these excellent recreation
grounds
LOS Angeles. New York, Boston, Gin
cfnnati. Chicago and all the large cities
Of the United States put US TO shame
in these matters The suggested
change in the high school system of
s+bletfc instruction is modelled directly
after the plans already in operation in
other cities and its virtues are well
known.
II is hard to believe that there is
not a single high school gymnasium in
~S,n Francisco, but it is a fact. Ger
May Day Excursion to UEiah