The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-24
Nelu York Must Win One More
SPORT FOR ALL

receive superior training physically. mentally and morally than other stu ldents-even if these high standards are lthe results of defensive measures-and because 1t has best fitted it's partici- pants for war. But he sees the weak ness of the system-that it benefits a | path eticany small number. He believes that the correction of this weakness will not only justify intercollegiate sport during war but cause it to fulfil truly worthy place afterward in American college education
 VALUABLE SCHEME
 All of us know that a scheme which will give every undergraduate athletic training will do wonderful good-if 1 it works Any plan which contemplates so changing present systems of ath- l letics and physical education to bring l this about has the eff" to contend with , Such radical move must combine our | present systems-intercollegi ath- letics and physical culture-and must 1 first overcome the fundamental ob- stacle of educating the American people-particularly our educators-of the vital importance of true physical education While the educator. in the. ory agrees that physical education is equally as important as mental and moral training he has a limited prac-
  penditures to back up another's plans
 Bearing this in mind asked Ray Smith what sort of plan he believed Penn States would follow if this handi- leap was removed? His reply follows: Most of our colleges require physi- , cal education consisting almost ex- clusively of gymnastic and calisthenic exercises Few recall the work as other than a boresome task. It lost of itr 1I7a nf ha lat lessness and lack of enthusiasm re- |sulting The student learned little to aid him in keeping In condition in after life. The work was extremely ineffi- cient from the standpoint of modern physical demands. What 1t lacked was the outdoor activity and the thrill Of contest.
 we need happy mixture of the best of this and the best features of competitive athletics plus other out door activities, such as hiking, which are not necessarily competitive. Let such a course, together with the neces- sarv physical and medical examinations and hygiene lectures, be required or every student And provide adequate playgrounds and competent instructors to teach and encourage
 Permit normal men to select and specialize themselves In certain sports and direct the others in those activities best suited to their needs. Make cer- tain parts of the work compulsory and in the competitive games classify the men according to ability and advance them to more proficient group as they develop. That this plan is not impracti- cable is proven by the faact that few, Princeton among the number, have al- ready put the idea into practice in va rious degrees.
 Another point we make of this sys- tenn is that from 1t intercollegiate teams could be developed. They would be truly more representative of the educational standards of their respec- tive colleges, and athletic benefits would not then be for the exclutive few.
 Intercollegiate athletics can help America win the war and they should be carried on during the war. But 1t will be extremely hard to justify their continuance unless we emphasize their educational value and extend their benefits to the greatest possible num- Der as a true measure of physical pre- paredness."
 Copyright, 1917. by Sol Metzger.)