New Ulm review., 1913-02-12
Athletics in Our High School

The following essay was one
of the numbers on the hish school
literary program given at tue school.
house last Friday evening. It was
written by Elmer Cordes, member of
the senior class and captain o. the
high school basket ball team OF this
year. We believe in encouraging
clean athletics In every form and
think that If more of tho parents
gave consideration to the question
they too would approve. F''c that
reason we print the essay in full as
delivered
The advisability of having athletics
in schools, especially colleges and
high schools, has often been dis
cussed. But 1t seems in spite Of dis
couragement and arguments against
the idea that they have failed to
keep 1t down In one branch or an.
oriler In different schools.
"A healthy mind in q healthy
body" an old adage has been found
to be very true. In the majority
OF cases it will be found that good
athlete ic also the one who will
keep up in his studies. This Is only
natural; a healthy boy sitting in
school all day will always want some
recreation, which can be obtained
in no finer way than by going to
the gymnasium (if the school Is
lucky enough to have one) or by
participating in any OF the outdoor
sports. e..
It is not true that the learning
of any person stops when going on
the field. Take for instance foot
ball: the players mind will have
to be working every minute of the
time, and not only must his mind
work, but he must cultivate the in.
stinct which makes mind and body
work together, and work quickly, aud
it is only through practice and the
actual working together OF the two
that this quickness of mind can be
obtained, not by any amount Of
studying.
A good example Of the value OF
athletics can be obtained from the
remarks made by 6upt. Mertca,
when he compared that big. beefy
bunch Of football players, that did
not care a bit about training and
preparing. to those poor little fel.
lows whom they were 90 confident
OF beating without practising. But
this little scrappy bunch on the 9th.
er side were getting ready; they
were preparing. What was the re-
suit? Just as Supt. Merica said.
".They wiped the field with those Mig
Why was It? They got
ready. They were prepared and
that is what our high school educa.
ton IL trying to do-to prepare us
to meet LIES struggle.
Athletics in our high school have
come to the front at various times
in football, baseball, basketball and
track. Although We were not al
lowed to play games with other
football has always been
as 1t always results in
inter.class games. Basketball is our
strong point: our high school has
the reputation of possessing the best
high school team In the state. Fur.
thermore our team had the right
full claim to. the state championship
three years ago. Baseball seems to
have gone to sleep since the days
Of Gap" Mueller and 'Linery" Publ.
mann. In those days baseball was
played for all there was in 1t. as
a result we had one OF the best
teams in southern Minnesota. Track,
I am sorry to say, has never pro-
gressed very far, but the right ef-
fort has never been made in that
line.
The present place Of athletics in
our school is not what it should be.
We could have good team In every