The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-02-01
BOXING MATCHES
AT SCHOOL

At the high school building at
| Blackfoot they have what is called
assembly once a week, Friday at
1890 or II O'Clock, and it is a rest
hour and time for putting on some
thing a little different from the
regular school work. Sometimes it
is little play, sometimes it is music
and speaking, but generally some
thing that gives practice to the
pupils in appearing before an
audience.
Last Friday they put on four box
ing matches, one after another, with
rapidity and air of business that
made it novel affair, and jolly
one. The writer had tip to be
there, and found it a refreshing
event, not without it's commendable
features.
To the taxpayer, who has lost his
CHEEKY outlook of life and who wants
the schools brought back to the
simple kind, it may seem to be a
waste of money to call few hun
dred pupils from their work to wit
ness boxing, with accompaniment of
music by the school band, but this
view is mellowed by the rest of the
thought that it was an orderly jolli-
fication for all, and they had the
opportunity to witness boxing events
without going to prize fight and
mingling with elements that parents
would rather have their boys and
girls keep away from. Boxing has
not gone out of use yet and prob
ably never will, and it is mistake
fn odIaofo q how N info11oafuo oil
things and leave him defenseless
when he is insulted or attacked or
when he is called upon to defend
some one who depends upon him for
protection. Many man goes thru
life desiring to be a decent citizen,
but unable to defend ,decency in the
face of wrongs inflicted because he
cannot use his fists. Many a man
who has missed the training in fistic
performance, and who Is no coward,
takes sound whipping sometimes
at the hands of q scoundrel just be-
cause he would rather take a beat
ing than to submit tamely to insult
without trying. The memory of a
losing fight and black eye is not
any worse than the memory of an in
suit swallowed without fight. Such
an injury never heals.
Roosevelt was an advocate of
thoro physical training for boys, and
it was he who originated the slogan,
buy your kid punching bag and
teach him how to use it." There
have been too many sissies in
America in recent years and there |
are too many of them now. Parents
who know nothing about boxing are
not likely to teach their children |
boxing at home, and if the boys at
school proved themselves with a few
pairs of boxing gloves and have
their drills and referees in the !
gymnasium, it is a useful and valu-
able part of their schooling because
It fits them for clean and indie
pendent citizenship. 1t fits them to
1efend themselves and their sisters
n manly fashion, and if there were
more of that spirit among the boys,
md more reliance upon such gal
antry among the girls, there might
lot be so much need for all this
modern hullabaloo about what the
vOung folks are coming to. Boys
Who have their differences and go
tut and settle it in a good square
light without any foul hits are the
desirable kind, and their girl friends
lave something to live for when
hey seek to measure up to the
Worth of such fellows.
There is a tendency in human
ature to go out and find what has
een forbidden them. Boys want to
ee boxing matches, and If they can
ave them at school with all the
ules and trimmings, the curiosity
nd the desire are met and satisfied
n proper way. Girls of the right
ort do not court fights and rum ]
uses, and do not want to see boys
eat each other up, but it probably
clips to make normal girls of them
D see what boxing is. A girl ought
t least, to know enough about box
lg so that she will not, after seeing
finished fight, ask that fool ques> |
on, We'll, who whipped" I
c