The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-08-17
Athletics 3N Schools
NJ Pager Read ~ Al. G. Mayors Before
" the Teachers Institute

After all tnat mas Deen SAID before
| feel somewhat out of place, but if
you will take goodwill instead of
talent may succeed in impressing
the fact that athletics has come to
be one of the most important fac
tors in the modern school.
The ancients, especially the
Greeks and Romans, fully appreci-
ated the fact that the body must
develop with the mind if the high
est results were to be obtained, and
a sound mind in sound body was
required of every pupil.
Also science has lately been dis
covering that while all diseases can
not be cured by hypnotic suggestion,
nevertheless the mind and the body
are so closely related one can not
be injured without disturbing the
other. In some city schools re-.
Gently the pupils were examined ana
90 per cent of the dull pupils had
some physical defect. OF course
out in the country conditions are
not SO bad, and it sometimes seems
that the most athletic ones are the
most backward pupils, but | claim
that this is the teachers fault
Now take the college, where the
most studying is supposed to be
done. and watch the boy who takes
part in athletics. By this | do not
mean the boy who is star and who
gives no time to ANYTHING else, but
the average boy. He may not lead
his classes. because he must take
some time away from his studies,
but YOU will notice that his health
rarely fails that he is not erratic
or nervous. and scarcely ever falls
down on his examinations though
his marks may not be brilliant.
You will also see him in after life
4 well rounded healthy man. who
will do his share in the worlds work
while his classmate who devoted
all of his time to study. is broken
in health. Derhans narrowminded
and grabbed, getting no good out
of life and bringing no good into it.
Now as to the children Of the
grammar and high schools. we may
ask what are they there for2 TO be
educated of course Bnt what does
education mean2 Tt means to draw
out to develop primarily the mind.
But the mind developes with the
body, especially in the child. The
brain is the seat of the mind. but
if has other works to perform; 1t
is the great nervous center OF the
body, and to concentrate it upon
study draws upon the nervous en-
ergv of the entire body and this
must be recuperated in some man
ner We find that the best way to
do this is by some form of physical
exercise, particularly in games. IN
the open air. At recess whether
athletics are encouraged or not We
see that the children get fesgefher
and fry to plav something. they can
not keep still. And to keep them
out Of mischief it is best to have
something to do. Tennis. basketball
and baseball are all good games. and
they are governed by rules which
also helps to educate. for the boy or
girl who will play fair on the play
ground is pretty apt to play fair in
everything.
Then there could be dumbells,
trapeze, and these are not hard to
make and are good muscle Develop
ers, and can be used by any one as
there is nothing to learn about them.
Then for those who are able to
play it. there is that king Of school
sports. football. While this is a
very violent game, there is no doubt
as to its being a good one, as it IN
culcates the principal of team work
and uses the mind along with the
body. Tn view of these facts, and
the facts that strong man is bet
ter fitted for his place in life than 2.
weak one, I think we should do all
90 Oh hJQtInC