Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-05-22
Advantages of Athletics in
High Schools.
BY T. J, stOckArd NJ, ID.

By T. J, StockRrd NJ. ID.
Owing to the fact that many parents
look upon High School athletics as
waste Of time and of no benefit, and do
not encourage the same, wish to
put before them for consideration few
Of the many advantages of the same.
Without health and strength, no man
is able TO attain very much mentally.
A diseased body means diseased mind.
In the language Of DIR, Largrut physi-
cal director of Harvard University
"The first great requisite of q great
mind is a strong, robust, vigorous and
healthful body" No man inherits
such body. Only can this be attained
by exercise, systematic exercise of some
kind. Athletics offers the best OppOr-
tunity for this exercise, because il Of
fers something that is interesting to the
boy or girl. The play instinct Is
one Of the predominant factors in all
games. One great educator has said
that play was tue greatest of all instincts
of the American boy or girl They
play because they like to do so and hence
it is easy to get development from their
athletics People do best the things
which they like to do,
Another advantage is the develop
ment of the traits or desire to succeed.
The American people are said to have
greater desire than any other nation on
the earth to not only surpass "the do
ing's" of each other but that of all other
nations. That Unborn desire to excel,
athletics begins to teach them that
early. Not only do they try to out do
their own class and team mates, but
when they band together as team
they work so hard 10 beat the other
schools teams, 1t helps to put the
fighting spirit and staying qualities
into our boys and girls of today who
are sure to be our men and women of
tomorrow. Have you ever seen good
athletics but that he succeeded in after
life? Practically none,
1t teaches them the first lessons In
comradesDip devotion and obligation
of duty Athletics also affords the Op-
portunity OF mixing work and play,
the one thing which the leading edu-
J Gators of the country today are stres-
, sing 1t serves to bind the student
closer to his Alma Mater The Joy Of
victory or the sorrows of defeat will
do more than anything in Algebra or
Latin class to endesr student to his
D old school,
1t teaches endurance and skill, two
very important assets for success In adult
life, also patience, torbearance and
manliness and especially the control
? of ones temper. Also teaches alertness
and activity, quick TO take the advan-
q tage of some fault of an opponent, mol
an unfair advantage, but(t TO profit by
" his or her mistakes, to succeed because
J of mis- neglect or failure. And what a
e success in this life for you or me but
n taking the advantage of (profting by)
the neglect and failures OF others.
Athletics in high school begins the
' development of all these and many
D more virtues in early life.
i Today the eyes of the world are
turned toward Stockholm where the
- great Olympic games are TO be pulled
off this summer. Nearly every nation
'S of the earth will be represented, Amer
! lea having won more of these Olym-
piads than all other nations combined.
II Experts abroad say (this is due to
Americas beginning with her youths
IN the high schools to train them in the
% rudiments of the sports while they are
le yet boys and girls, and that England
10 will never be able to defeat the United
states until more stress is laid upon
athletics in their elementary schools.
p Another advantage frequently is the
means of developing and bringing out
lie the ability Of some poor boy who after
On ward works his way via the University,
but for his athletics he could never
90 have acquired University Education
A. Also the social side of life is made NOR,
extensive, both by greater acquaintance
ship and educational travel which nat
'Ss urally comes to the athletic team.
" And last is the greater value attained
ut from the literary standpoint by tn
athletics, AS a rule he, by his athleti
at exercise, is stimulated to greater acLiy
ity along book lines.
,,u Athletics require constants practiC
~ which of course developes. Take thl
10y musician, the soldier or any body, the
!, develope their traits or qualities b
lle' practice and so does the athlete.
on, Remember that diseased body meaI
diseased mind. While a strong, VII
gh orous, robust body with the educatio
received along with the physical exeI
the else means strong body and mind.