The San Francisco call., 1910-02-26
by JOSEPH II. HICKEY,
Secretary Public schools Athletic
League


- VERY boy and girl in the public
schools Of this city is now being
provided with the place and time
for recreation as well as study. The
Public Schools Athletic League of san
francisco is enjoying its second year
of activity due to the enthusiastic and
sensible realization of a number of
citizens who have Joined to help the
children play. Organized play is no
longer considered luxury, but neces-
slty. 1t is not simply something that
the boy or girl likes to have: it is
something that they must have. as it
IS an essential part Of youthful en-
vlronment. If the children in the pub
nc schools are not given a chance to
play in the right way they are not
settihg all that is good for them Most
ol the members Of the board of di-
rectors of the Public Schools athletic
league have enjoyed the benefits Of
atnietics and are not selfish in the pos
session OF their good health and high
spirits. They desire to give the bows
and girls in the schools every oppor-
tunity to play games, to excel in tests
OF speed skill and endurance, to teach
schoolmates to be honorable and
straight by normal play with their
Fellows For this reason every boy and
girl IN the grammar schools should
take advantage of the games announced
for their pleasure.
Basket ball. baseball, track and field
athletics are included I'm the list OF
sports encouraged by the league and
swimming will be introduced within
the next few weeks. whereby all can
learn to swim at practically no ex-
pense No longer are the athletes from
the various schools confined to a select
few, but under the system adopted bv
the league every boy can compete for
prize without fear of facing a cham
pion. The method of attracting all of
the boys to the games is demonstrated
in the division according to weights
This weight system applies to all
branches of sport, except that in the
girls basket ball tournament the teams
were allowed to include all sizes for
this season. There are four classes
for the boys, as follows: Events for
boys under % pounds, under so pounds
under lis pounds and an unlimited
class which includes all those who do
not qualify in the remaining three di-
visions. The result of this classifica-
tion has been to draw into the games
hundreds of children who heretofore
stood aside to watch a few others per-
form. During the last two years more
games have been held for the school
children than at any time in the past
Greater interest has been displayed in
school activities as q result and a
higher standard of scholarship has
been recorded in view of the require
ments necessary to take part in the
game.
Order ia the classroom, regular at
tendance and a satisfactory mark in
lessons must be to the credit of every
boy who aspires to win prize unde
the auspices OF the league. During
the coming school year plans will be
adopted by the league, which is now a
recognized feature in connection with
the school work, whereby athletic
fields and Fairgrounds In the vicinity
of the various schools will be built.
The board OF education has been quick
10 recognize the advantages OF the
league and will turn over to the OFF,
clals several sites no longer needed for
buildings. These grounds Will be ar
ranged so that district games will be
held regularly for the schools in each
yicinity.
It is common thing nowadays to
emphasize the value Of play and sports,
for spontaneous play opposes the oc-
oupsti0ns OF civilized life which con-
spiFe to hamper and contract the lungs.
no study, 90 read, toNkeep books, 10
write to do almost anything OF the
kind, causes dropping shoulders and