New-York tribune., 1911-12-29

Professor H. c. Chase, Tufts.
troduce college methods and ideals into
schools athletics, for they know no other
The sChoolboyS themselves want the col
lege methods. They want TO be like col
/ llege men. are never so much pleased as
when they are taken for college men, ana
| look to the college for standards OF every
sort, being unwilling to entertain anything
that has not first had the sanction or the
college.
In all their sports these boys are gov
erned by regulations laid down by college
committees and are obedient at once to
every modification adopted by the latter
The college on its part is bound to cult
best athletic material, and. in doing so.
still more decidedly impresses itself upon
the latter.
As a result of these several influences
there has come in the preparatory schools
a notable development of skill as well as
of splendid strength and manhood; also
keenness of judgment, quickness or de-
cIsi6n, self-confdence, initiative ana Poishe; h,
preparatory schoolboys or generation
ago.
But with this college dominance have
come the vices as we'll as the virtues or
college athletics There are the same ten
denotes to professionalism, to proselytiiG
to unsportsmanlike conduct, TO treachery
and foul play, to betting ana spIeeIIns' pIs.
there is the same difficulty with scholar
ship the same opposition to the faculty
when decisions of the latter run counter to
the will of the boys, the same tendency 70
confne the athletics TO the comparatively
few and to turn all the rest Of the school
into cigarette smoking spectators with
their insane organized cheering
Now, all of this and a great deal more,
every one knows. and there Is no need for
further elaboration. These matters are
thus briefly rehearsed so that we may the
better orient ourselves with respect TO the
topics which are to follow. For. after ad-
-
nance of the college and mentioning It's
consequences, propose TO go on to plead
for more domination. There can be no ad-
vantage In the two groups working inde-
pendently of each other, even If this were
possible, and there is every advantage IN
their working together or in coordination
with the college extending wholesome
protectorate, as IL We're, over the younger
boys. Just as was once said in reply to
criticism of democracy: THE cure for the
evils OF democracy is more democracy" so
we may say that the cure for the evils of
college dominance over secondary school
athletics Is more dominance.
Is ii not time for the college to enter
upon the situation, partly of its own max
Ing, and help promote in the preparatory
schools a rich, varied, Yirile programme Of
athletics and recreation perhaps with the
compulsory feature. obliging every boy to
participate, and at the same time urging
propaganda for increased athletic facilities
and play areas for faculty coaching. better
management, spOrtsmanlike spirit and SYM
pathetic supervision and, after all has
been placed on a sound supervised basis
follow il up with n demand that athletics
shall be definitely recognized as a part of
the curriculum, yielding counts or units
which may be applied toward era 1ua On
and college entrance?
Perhaps i'm going through such a cam
paign the college might he led to brush off
some of It's own mud spots 1t is we'll
known that the placing of responsibility
on hitherto none too virtuous person has
frequently resulted in a much needed local
reform,
Chancellor Mccormick Of the Univer-
sity Of Pittsburgh read paper on col
lege Athletics from the Viewpoint Of the
President of a University" lie showed
quickly that athletics are not always
frowned on by those who have the educa
tional side, as applying to textbooks and
mind training, most fully developed. He
said:
THE first prominent fact is that ath-
intercollegiate. intercollegiate and COM
munal-are a good thing and are worth
very considerable amount Of trouble in or
der that they may be made the best pos
sible"
Chancellor Mccormick added in a long.
interesting paper
MS proposition Is intended 10 mean all
That the words can possibly imply While
sometimes excessive. sometimes unethiCal
sometimes III directed, sometimes profes-
sional, sometimes tending to serious evil
yet athletics are good for men and for
women, for young and for old Competi-
tive athletics in all forms and in all places
are good, in spite of some bad elements
and some bad concomitants. exactly as
summer is good, in spite OF its electric
storms and cyclones, and winter Is good I'm
spite OF its excessive freeZIngs and thaW-
inSs Athletics are therefore To be accept
ed as we accept the seasons. seeking to
overcome and remedy harmful defects Just
as we seek to provide against excessive
heat and cold, against drouthS and storm
and flood i'm the physical world. 1t is no
better to become excited and send forth
fulminations against athletics because
there are imperfections therein than to in
weigh against nature because sometimes a
cyclone sweeps destructively over the
prairie or because once I'm a while a food
turns fertile farms and prosperous fields
into chaotic waste.
The physical exercise which belongs to
the play side Of human nature is funda-
mental necessity In the production of the
kind Of manhood which is to dominate the
earth We may not know, and we may not
greatly care whether the Englshman or
the Chnaman IL ultimately 10 be the par
ticular man TO do this: but we do know,
and We should very greatly care that II is
so. that whoever IL Is 1t must be the finest
type Of manhood that Is TO assume SUI
preme place. Moral and intellectual quail
ties must be finely intermngled In the
superman who is TO be the earthly king OF
kings
He took as another text that the atti-
tudc of the educator toward athletics should
be sympathetic and cooperative. and he sat
isfled many Of those present of the impor-
tance OF this. lie then wound up by say
ing:
| submit In conclusion. therefore, that the
only consistent attitude for the educator TO
take Is that Of sympathy and cooperation
iIN athletics. and that the remedy for ali
evils not imbedded in the sport itself IL
the right kind of ethical instruction, the
patient, continued incubation Of correct
moral sentiment. Student opinion so
formed is sure To be right and IL Is equally
sure To- be omnipotent. Rules will no more
he made only to be evaded at the cost OF
moral evil much greater than the original
offence; and. on the contrary, the true
manlness Of the student body will see 10
Il that the athletic standard shall De raised
high and splendidly measure up to the
highest expectations OF president and fac.
ulty as well as Of the whole people Snort
relieved OF all harmful trammeis will ac-
complish It's valuable purpose OF making
character for the nation and for the world