Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-29
Foot Ball in the High Schools.

u is to be regretted that in disbanding
the Western High School foot ball team
for the season and abandoning the Sched-
ule of events in which that team had been
entered the faculty of that institution dld
not predicate its action upon higher
grounds than the prospect of defeat en-
tailed by the weakening of the team
through accidents, Withdrawals and dis
Qualifications. There is abundant reason
for the disbandment of every high schooI
foot ball team in the very dangers of the
game. which have been already SO plain
" demonstrated in the games played this
season. 1t is obvious from the explana-
ton given by the principal of the Western
High School that parental objections have
been raised against the participation OF
the boys in the game. II would seem from
the explanation offered that If enough pu-
pills could have been enlisted, despite the
objections of parents OF the disqualified
fions on the scholarship basis or the in
juries received notwithstanding the re-
vision of the rules, a team would have
been continued. For the weakest posi-
bic reason. that there was a strong pros
pect OF defeat, this action was taken.
i; foot bali Is safe and il it is d de-
sirable sport for the development Of the
body and the mind and the spirit Of its
participants II should make no difference
10 the school authorities whether the
game is won or lost. A weak team should
be just as much of an advantage to the
school and to the boys who play as a
strong one. There is no dishonor in de-
feat. There is no assured honor in vic
tory. In foot ball victory is often OF
doubtful virtue. Indeed, there are those
VI
10 the theory that the school that excels
in athletics. winning championships in
foot ball and in base ball, is somewhat
under question as to its educational eff
cheney. The Western High School, there
fore, might have appealed as strongly to
the citizens of Washington as an insti-
tuition Of learning even though with a
crippled and weakened team 1t went
through the foot ball season without a
victory.
Nothing could more clearly demonstrate
the need of general prohibition Of the
game. not for purposes OF expediency, out
Tor the preservation Of the true function
OF the schools and the safeguarding of
the lives and limbs of pupils, than this
withdrawal Of the Western High School
team. It is at once a good and a bad
example. II shows what should be done,
but not the way to do II. And 1t is vitality
important in this matter that the stopping
OF the game should be effected honestly
and thoroughly, on the soundest possible
basis. The board of education, not the
faculties OF the different schools, should
assume the responsibility for abandoning
sport that may at any time cost life
1t is stated in yesterdays Star that the
game is now on probation In the District
and that the higher school authorities
were closely watching the scheduled con-
tests for evidence that the sport as now
revised is unsafe. Yesterday a game was
played without nishap to any player.
That was exceedingly fortunate, especial
ly fortunate in that the contest was viz
tualiy speculation In Juvenile life. At
any minute an accident might have hap
pened similar TO that which occurred
Wednesday at Easton, Md, when Lee
Simpson, aged eighteen, was struck in the
temple by the knee OF another player dur
ing high school foot ball game and in
jured so severely that he died the next
day A game with such a risk, that is
under so grave a suspicion that it must
DC played under the personal inspection
d school trustees, is not worth consider
ing as a means of public school diversion
ag development. 1t should be abandoned
without further delay.