The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1911-12-15
FOOTBALL AND BAS-
kETBALl IN DETAILS.
DEBATING CONTESTS TO CoNID
Movement Started to Abolish These
Games and Substitute Other
AnusementS.

The status of these games has
appealed SO strongly to my notions
of verile manhood that l have fire.
quently said in public, If / had
boy who did not want to play foot
ball when he saw others playing the
game, | should not consider him
normal boy" There are certain
qualities demanded to make a foot
ball player that every successful
man must possess.
While still holding to the above
theory, my experiences make me
conclude that my boy would not be
permitted to play the game. At
least. not until he had developed
into his full manhood, say the last
two years of his college or univer-
sity life
My plan would be to develop
those qualities that count for sue
cess in life through some other line
of play activities.
l am forced to realize that the
game tends to lower the moral
ideals of the youth; that it de-
mands too much OF the time OF the
high school student. thereby lowering
his standards in scholarship and in
department; that IL must interfere
with his home duties. which are es-
sential TO his rounded development
that the severity of the training for
the games and the strenuousness
of the games tend to injure the
youth. thus retarding his normal de
velopment: that the consequent ex-
penses incurred in equipping the
team for the field. coupled with the
expenses of transportation and hos
pitality belonging to the visiting
teams. are too great for any local
high school to support,
Notwithstanding the careful man
agement of the finances for the sea
sou just closed there is deficit OF
$4,000. This amount must be rails
ed through entertainments of var
ious kinds. The expenses for the
season were over $4,000.
What has been said of football
applies to basketball.
The effect of competitive games
between high schools is always de-
moralizing. The partisan feeling
engendered by the contests call out
the worst in the nature OF the con-
testant Loyalty to his own school
prompts the high school student TO
forget his sense of decency and the
rights of Others. Rodyism dominates
his mannerism. Since my return TO
Delta. n period OF five years.
have tried to control and direct
these games My sympathies are al
ways with the boys and girls. My
confidence in our young people Is
unshaken. yet a close study OF the
results upon players and consequent
ly upon the whole school. has con
vinced me that inter-high school
comparative athletic games have
lowered the moral tone of our high
school. Naturally. our young peo-
pie are n. high minded class OF stu
dents. They are capable of class
leadership If proper environments
are thrown about them.
Intellectual contests in debate or
atory. defamation and essay. and
the regular rhetorical and Ath-
letic' contests of the Western slope.
will be encouraged in every reason
able way.
I shall be glad to know the mind
of the patrons of our schools. rela-
tive to the above matter. The CO
operation that we have received In
the past In our efforts to advance
the public schools of this city and
district, assures us of support in this
resolve to eliminate these games
from our high schools.
Very Respectfully,
PHILIP NJ. CONDIT