The San Francisco call., 1910-04-28
WAKING UP TO.
CITY BOYS need
in ATHLETICS
Physicians Join in the Plea for
More Attention to Physical
Development of Pupils
Supervisors Are TO Be Asked to
Provide Funds for cOmpe-
tent Instructors

e tS.l trained body TO support il. The
physical development of a youth is as
important as his mental DEVELOPMENT.
and too much eau not be said to awaken
those IN authority 10 the present
neglect. heartily rindorse the sug-
sestion that trained phyhicaI instruc-
tors be placed in the high schools.
There is real danger in the coach syS-
.ten."-Dfl. MORTON L. GIBBONS.
Physician: Olympic Club.
a@Left alone the children are too prone
10 emulate. They Overdo the athletic
idea This should be controlled by an
experienced Instructor. think all
medical men viii agree with the sug-
gestions made."-DR- JOHN GALL
WEA, Physician and Surgeon.
..AelI directed physical training is
VERY i'm nortant thing. In my expert
ehce with the army troops L find that
1he physical training required of the
recruits stimulates their mental grasp
aud has an -undOubted tendency to de-
yel0p The mind facuIties.'-COLONEL
H.. ). r. HARRIS, Chief Surgeon, De-
paTfmenf. OF California, L. =. A.
eve need the physical director, the
je5zrlnasisim and more facilities to over
come the lead of the country athletes
CAPTAIN ROY COIN, Lowell High
scheoI Track Team.
:. ..4S'e cart go against the hay pitchers
from the farm until we have more ia
cilItleS.,--CAPTAIN BERT TOOKER,
Lick High school Track Team.
..+.ff The boys are encouraged and
s=egen the opportunity they can make
The showing. At present the obstacles
are 1oO Ereat.~-CAPTAIN VI. ADIAR,
IsoIytechnic High school Track Team.
=" -Cne[ voice, sounding a warning and
pleading the cause of the high school
athlete. has been lifted above the null
tiJr7e speaking in his behalf. With
those who are trying to solve the diff
aculues with which the high school
boy is surrounded have been joined by
the members Of the medical profession
81 san Francisco. On the eve of the
Injecting to be held in which the track
and feld teams viii be given hearing,
those best in a position 10 analyze the
conditions have Joined with the young
Z
b chief surgeon of the department OF Cal
} fornia. United States army, who has
had the physical well being of hun
-GTeds of men in his care during his
. long army experience, to the physicians
IN. private practice through the city,
the 3fandicap Of the boys is recognized.
p. With Colonel Harris, DR.. Morton l.
3 GE5hons, consulting physician Of the
tCtlSmpic athletic club, and DR.. John
:. .CtallWey agree that properly directed.
I systematic physical training in the
h1Eh schools is the only real solution
--of @the present unhappy predicament
.:l}{ltl0Or playground and plenty of well
p directed exercise, they agree, viii re-
gain 10 the growing generation the
:: physical vitality already lost. With
the same opinions expressed by the
! members Of the board Of education, the
% principals OF the schools and the stu
dents themselves, II is highly probable
. that the supervisors viii be asked to
-i1cresse the school department budget
ia allow in the next fiscal year suf-
p. ficient money TO carry into execution
the. plans advanced.
= PEAKS. FOR MASS MEETING
-. Today President Bannerman will
= -coffsult with the various high school
.TT1ncipsls and endeavor TO fix the
2 t5Tne for the big mass meeting to be
:. He}d 1t the Mission high school. I'M
erai cali viii be issued to all interested
: and an attempt made TO place the fu-
=: -taEe success or failure of school ath-
sletlcs in the hands OF the students.
-: *4EIth the adoption Of the new order
of d.hings in the city schools, san Fran
: cisco viii be following in the foot
4 steps Of both the New York and Bos-
ION educators. The examplesset by the
:.aastern school departments has been
= eriuIated in several cities on the coast
and about the bay with a highly bene-
+ ficial effect. Not only has it had a
. tendency TO develop athletic stars, but
j. ii has materially affected the general
;. student body.
The suggestion has now been made
that he Fairgrounds commission, under
its own supervision, install in the nu-
rserous city parks cinder paths and
small athletic grounds on which the
Students of the nearby schools can eX-
ercise In this connection il is
pointed out that the students of Lowell
, high school have solicited and gained,
: from IN adjacent property owner, per-
. mission to use a vacant lot, have in
:. stalled a cinder path and field appara-
3: ms despairing Of assistance from the
= department. Another complaint re-
corded by the track teams is the fact
that the park stadium, aside from being
TOO far removed for training purposes,
: il in no condition to use. Several of
the runners have developed shin
sprints" fro mthe cinder path there, on
account Of the hard and neglected
track. To this condition Captain Roy
COhn Of Lowell attributes the defeat
=. Saturday Of Leo Meyer. one of the best
men on his team.
DOCToR GIBBONS TAKES A HAND
:Tn..s5lpport of the boys cause, Doctor
I Gibbons said yesterday; There is un-
.:d0iibtedly need for proper physical
training in the high schools. I venture
: 10 say that the growing generation in
--f,,1s9 nv instances is inferior In vitality
to- the passing. one. / think this is true
: iIlTtic:ularly of the foreign element Of
;65iT population, whose children depend
Tor: recreation upon the school system
school should be made the great play
-a-rotsnd Of the race, where men and
..vvluler are developed physically as
p tTeil as mentally. wei trained mind
.sT9iist be supported by a well trained
.bodv. The physical development Of a
syoljfh is as important as his mental
5fevelopment and too much can not be
said: 10 awaken those in authority TO
lie J,resent neglect
.:.iT heartily indorse the suggestion
-sl,a+ trained instructors be placed in