The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1912-10-10

I Only those schools can enter the
contests for County championship
that have at least 80 p. c. of eligi-
BILE boys or girls enter the con
test. This arrangement will make
I ii necessary for those who usually
stand upon the side lines TO enter
the contests and to get in trim for
them II will mean that no longer the
best athletes who need the exercise
and training the least get all the
training but that a great deal OF at
tention will be given TO the training
Of those who need II most
An annual Play and Athletic Festi
val was also considered. II this
is carried out il will mean a large
County folk day at which cups and
medals will be awarded as prizes
and where there will be contests be-
tween individuals, teams and schools
There will also be exhibitions in
folk-dancing. school pageants, and
other interesting events.
The Bennington County Vermont
improvement Association has been
fortunate in securing the services
of DR.. Brown of New York City,
one of the prime movers in the
Play and Recreation life In Ameri-
ca, for three days to initiate the
work OF the County League. He
will give demonstrations with the
school pupils at the schools during
the day time and address mass
meetings during the evening, The
place and time of these will be an
nounced later The value of this
work cannot beover emphasized.
If the Play and Recreation League
of Bennington County receives the
cooperation and support from teach
ers. parents and townspeople in
general that IL deserves, the boys
and girls OF our town will be strong
sr men aud women than they would
be without well directed and super
vised play.
Everyone who has made study
of athletics and play life knows that
there are certain games that are
beneficial and certain games that
are injurious, that there are ways
1f playing that demoralize and that
here are ways that help build
charac er. A careful selection ac-
cording TO age, sex and physical
eahdition. and a vigilant snperyi-
sion will bring about threefold re-
suit IN the lives Of those who play
First, II will make the player strong
er physically Experts IN this
field have found that well adapted
exercise makes boys strong, manly,
courageous and viril, and girls
healthy. strong and graceful; 2nd
viii increase mental efficiency
iHflt arc Ehia4Nn Ahdi dlN dS H'uNh
OF factor in developing the mind
as studies. Well adapted play and
exercise brightens the mind. re
freshes the spirit and stimulates
mental alertness. This does not
stop the moment the play ceases Il
IL carried on into the study hours
and home duties Reports from
schools whore play associations have
been at work for several years show
a material Improvement ia scholar
ship Il Is found that children who
have been ia schools where there is
no regulated play lie cannot com
pete Ia their studies with children
who rave been in schools where
such pay associations are establish
I'D and where they were doing eff
eient work; 3rd. Il Improves dis
eipline and improves character Any
one who watehes group Of boys or
girls playing together who have
never been supervised viii find acts
and manners cropping ont here and
there thar are rough. coarse. under
handed. cowardly. sneasish and sell
fish. Supervised play calls such I
things 10 aeeoani and eliminates
them and substitutes clean play /
fairness. courtesy. unseifishness. CO.
ard all worthy social quail
iiies. Soon every player begins 10
realize that clean play Is much more