The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-11

During the last few weeks there
has been considerable agitation of the
urgent needs of this community for
Fairgrounds and for better provision
for the physical training of our youth
of all ages. L take it for granted
that all are agreed on these propo
sitions and l prefer to take this op-
portunity to deal with the athletic
problem in a way somewhat out of the
ordinary" said George A. Merrill, prin-
cipal of Lick and Wilmerding schools,
in his address yesterday before the
California club on Physical Training
in City Schools
so far as athletics and physical
training are concerned, we need all
that the newspapers claim-play-
grounds for the little folks, athletics
for the youths, gymnasiums (perhaps),
and many other things"
PRECAUTIoN NEEDED
Principal Merrill spoke of the social
izing of the high school and said:
ut seems as if the high schools
have assumed the principal RESPONSE
bility for the entire boy, beyond such
of his needs are served by the
I'VE will need an abundance of pre-
caution and of careful planning. The
athletic problem will not be solved
merely by making provision for more
athletics. More athletics added un-
wisely would only make more trouble.
ITO be of real value in the schools,
physical training must become real
and integral part of school life, and
that means ii must be most carefully
fo of 1an
schools. To accomplish this a num-
Der of prevailing evils must be re-
moved"
ENUMERATES EVILS
These evils were, he declared, first,
"booming" of their schools by means
of athletics by school principals and
teachers.
Occasionally it happens he said.
that an incompetent principal who
holds his job by political pull is un-
able to keep up the enrolment of his
school on genuine merit. With him
the temptation is strong TO increase his
enrolment through athletic prestige
He keeps on his roll boys who are
scmiprofessional athletes; he signs up
as athletes boys who are notoriously
deficient as students; in the end he
becomes a thorn in the flesh to all
other schools with whom his students
of their interschool relations
The second fault was q tendency
to win at all hazards; third, over de-
velopment of the championship idea,
to WHICH might be traced many minor
evils; fourth, excess in the physical
demands. and under this head he de-
clared himself as standing for the elm
ination of the pole vault, long distance
running, hammer throwing, intercol-
10 lot ha1 lirl1ft l1e
ber of events in which q boy may
enter in any one meet. He spoke also
for spontaneity in sport as opposed to
mechanical. machinelike drill in phys
ical training.
ATHLETICS ETHICAL VALUE
In closing Merrill said:
Perhaps you feel that l have con-
fined myself too much to the mega
tive side of things. pointing out what
to avoid rather than what to do.
have done this because / have taken
it for granted that the promotion side
has been pretty well cared for in the
newspapers and elsewhere. We want
Fairgrounds and everything else we
can get by all means, but when we
get them we want to put them to
the best possible use, not merely the
widest possible use, but also the
highest possible use. In my opinion.
the ethical value of school athletics
actually transcends the physical value
| must confess that outside the church
and some of the homes. l can see no
better and wider opportunity to teach
the things which make for better
standards, than is now being afforded
through the close personal contact of
teacher and pupil. through organized
athletics and similar influences in the
schools
Speaking informally later, Principal
Merrill said that he heartily indorsed
the fight being made by The Call for
Fairgrounds and better athletic oppor-
tunities, and that he could not say
too much in praise of it.