Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-01-02
ABILENE BADLY NEEDS
FIRST CLASS GYMNASIUM

One Of the most inSistent and linz
portant demands upon the modern
high school Is for a place for ply
steal training, both normal and REM
edial. for training athletic teams
during the winter season. holding
athletic contests, putting on school
enterbinmenU demanding large
space, as for plays, etc. These ac-
tiyities are as properly educational
and as much Fart OF school cur
riculum as any OF the work offered.
and consequently provision should
be made for them. One would be
surprised, II he shonld inquire into
the situation. to find the general
recognition Of the demand for these
things and the efforts being made
to satisfy the deiand which the COM
munity is making on the high school.
A gymnasium rs now looked upon
as one OF the most valuable assets
In school plant; II furnishes the
means for clean wholesome amuse-
ment for boys and girls in leisure
hours and becomes more attractive
than the street corner as a place to
spend spare time. Athletic games,
such as foot bali, basket ball, base
ball and others more strictly indoor
games, train for self control, agility
and skill and in the spirit OF co.
operation they tend to prepare the
individual to fit into society and
to subordinate self somewhat to the
good Of the whole group.
In a recent number OF one OF our
daily papers appeared classified
list of Kansas towns based upon
population. Abilene ranked 90. Ask
Yourself the question, i'Were the
ranking based upon equipment for.
taking care of the needs Of our boys
and girls in preparation for life
work would our rank still be 29?',
Ellsworth has just built a new
gymnasium 4Ox70 feet and the peo-
ped~'S are asking one another why
they did not do It years ago. Great
Bend has just let a contract for
building a $21 900 addition to her
high school which will have study
hall 4Ox6O feet gymnasium Of the
the same dimensions with locker
rooms and stage in connection
with the gymnasium for plays, man
ual training and domestic science
class rooms. etc. These are the very
things Abilene needs in order to
occupy her natural place among the
towns Of the state in an educational
way.
Each spring there is held in each
congressional district district bas-
ket bali tournament to choose the
district championship team for the
state tournament. Abilene IL the
ogical place for the district tourna-
nent from its central location on
the Union Pacific railroad. Clay
Center, Junction City, Chapman.
Solomon, Minneapolis and Salina IN
he district and Alma, Manhattan
md Ellsworth outside 1t geographi.
ally, but connected with It for ath-
etic purposes, all run into Abilene
conveniently. But we have NO &C.
ommodations for twelve or fifteen
basket ball teams and their sup
'orters, consequently we must see
he tournament with Its prestige and
disabilities OF advertisement for
9th school and town, go to saIina
where there are two fine gymna-
iums to accommodate the meet.
There are seventy-two second
lass cities in Kansas, besides the
en- first class cities, and still we
ank 20 in population. Over against
hat fact balance the one that Abb
enc is somewhere in the SOS in
Ugh school equipment. We have
lenty of wealth. and circumstances
re such as to warrant much need
d addition to our high school plant
! the lines of Industrial and ply
cal training. why not realize our
and live up to It?
II. T. SLEEPER
Principal Of High School.