Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-09
FOR ALL
At WEST PA|L[Y
New Physical Director to Build
Up IntercIass Competition to
Get Every Boy Interested
ENCOURAGE OTHER FELLOW

DOY DELAPIANE, the new ply
~ sital director of the West Phila-
delphia High School, says that he does
not intend TO interfere in any way with
the athletic association Of the 'insti-
tuition.
81 don't want my title to be mis-
taken for that of athletic head of the
school," said Mr.. Delaplane this morn
ing. II came as the director to teach
physical education to the boys. / was
not sent to West Philadelphia to teach
football, baseball, basketball and what
not.
my primary task at West Philadel
phla is to teach the boys exercises that
will build them up. | have been in
structed to organize intersection and
interclass leagues for various games,
II il true, but every boy in each class
and section will be given an opportu-
nifty.
Formerly eight. ten or fifteen boys
we're picked for team. and no one
bothered about the others. These boys
play in all the contests and get all the
good there Is in athletics, which, after
all, is only physical education"
Mr.. Delaplanc said that heretofore
boys who we're not able to play various
games well did not bother TO come near
the gymnasium, except when they were
forced to. They figured that they did
not have a chance, and that 1t was
useless to come out.
Had these boys taken into conSidera-
ton that they would be able to try for
the teams, with excellent chances of
in the gymnasium, they might have
practiccd But they didn't. SO they
are at the same stage they were few
wears ago." asserted the new director.
Every boy in high school. when he
sees another youngster wearing letter,
cnvies the other fellow. lie wishes that
he. too, could wear letter on his
sweater. But that all--hc only wishes
and cnvies. lie never comes out for the
team. =.
ANY boy who has any pep at all
should earn a letter. All that is ncccs-
sary is for the boys to spend few
minutes in the gym every day and keep
UP in their studies. with little
physical development, some boys In the
school could make the other fellows
to Mr.. Deaplane.. =,
"And that's what I'm driving at, y
he continued "Im going to try to get
every fellow In the school to turn out in
the gymnasium after school, as well as
during the regular hours, and We'll see
what can be done.
"As it is. there are many boys in
the school who can WIN places on the
various teams and we're going to try
to get them out. >.
"But after 40 get them out, I'm
not going to bother with the various
teams. They are coached by capable
men. who have established great rec
ords and far be II from me to break
up the parade. Every man coaching n
team at West Philadelphia knows his
BUSINESS, and ! don't intend to inter-
ferc. As | said before, | am not an
athletic head, I'm II physical director. =
Mr.. Dclaplane was former physical
instructor at Northeast High. He. for
mery played end at SwarthmOrG Col
lege and was captain during thu war.
He was in the machine gun branch of
the service and, was wounded.
Mr.. DeIaplane came to West Phila-
delphia at the reopening of the school
after the holidays. He assumed duties
Immediately.