The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-05-10
Mr.. MITcHELL's SERIOUS MISTAKE

In a letter TO the Daily Express published Monday, Mr. Lam
d. Mitchell principal Of the Chckasfa High school, says Il
emplacay certified player for parcpa-
Chckasha high school athletics except belief that
he eligible AS to changes in grades of PLAYERS in question:
these grades changed effort the record a
had made find true merits the
claims made by the pupils believed the time that each pupil
deserved The grade entered"
Without rejecting upon the good faith OF Mr. Michel in max
ing the foregoing statement is proper point that
do is his belief that students
eligible and that certain students were entitled 10 grades higher
than those with which they credited the permanent
ords OF the school This belief the part OF Mr. Mitchell it
plain from the results OF the investigation conducted by the
board OF education well founded being based upon
sufficient evidence.
certified the list OF football players the High School At
c Association before he had made any examination OF the
ords OF the school merely accepting the of students that
they had made passing grades and hence eligible In
matter of much Importance it would that the first thought
of the principal would have been consult the records of the
school the logical and best possible OF information The
players themselves interested parties the and odn
AIRY caution would have suggested that the only safe was
go the records.
investigation by board revealed by the
summary of the testimony which published last week fur
changed the grade OF pupil raising that the student might be
qualified member of the football upon the unsupported
the teacher Here again Mr. Mitchell made the mistake of act
ing upon belief that sqarey conflict with the written
record In another where the record showed that football
player had failure in a certain study the principal author
lied Mr. Strauss the athletic coach examine him and upon the
recorded grade UYdcr the rules the asoca
on, which the business OF Mr. Mitchell know the
and there provision whereby he is allowed
to make up for subject in which he has failed taking ANOTHER
examination and being credited with passing grade In this
cular Mr. Mtchcs belief that the student eligible
based upon knowledge OF the pupils grade obtained from
the sourcehe records OF the schooor knowledge
Of the rules of the association
1t clearly appears therefore from the foregoing considera
and from the conclusions reached by the board after
thorough Investigation that Mr. Mitchell made serious
mistake when he acted beliefs which not based upon
proper evidence Since not only the status OF the football team
in the state association but also the integrity of the school
administration itself involved in the making OF
cation OF the eligibility of the players the mistake which the
principal made in pesumng to act without adequate knowledge
of the gaves sort However good the intentions of Mr.
Mitchell may have been the outstanding fact discovered by
the board OF education and the officials of the association
examination of all the evidence that his action
t6able, regardless of his beliefs in the matter
As previously suggested in this column the which
here discussed vastly important that the athletic
sona interests of anybody connected with the schools because
touches the vital of the efficiency and integrity the school
itself Athletics constitute valuable part of the school life Of
boys and girls but not the most important part II students who
take part in athletics become heroes without meeting the
scholastic standards which should be maintained the fundamental
purpose Of the school undermined Patrons and the schools and
taxpayers who foot the bills have right that there shall
be no deviation from the highest standards for any reason watso
and the welfare Of the students themselves demands the
thing. This the main point OF the entire and The
vital lesson which all connected with the schools students well
as teachers principals and and board of education
should take seriously to heart If the humiliation which he
school and the community have suffered by of the athletic
tends to direct public attention the Importance of sco
ap and thorough mental training the fundamental object Of
the public schools and creates nsent public sentiment
that this object shall be constantly kept vew being made
onday other consideration the unfortunate situation in
which the school finds itself will valuable purpose
and will be unmitgated though disguised blessing
One way avoid criticism appoint the
dor-Dalas News.
Those proposed bachelor have thou shatkno"
plication-- Norfolk Vrginian- Pilot .s
Germany finding that those who break peace being
broken by t.-Norok Virginian- Pilot satS~-l
Colombia her treaty lastbut Colonel Roosevelt got
the canal.-New York Morning Telegraph