Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-10-02

public games:
BASKET BALL-"Is Or Ain't"?
Whether basket ball "is or amt,
whether it shall cease to exist or shall
flourish as it has in the past, ito be
or not to be-, is the question as yet
unanswered in the minds of Beling-
ton High School students Whether
It's better to suffer the loss of bas-
ket without complaint or to call
meeting and sustain young not in
our peaceful school and more slum-
berous town is the question we put
to ourselves in our silent solilogny.
Is our town slumberous or dead
Call it what you will, it is buried if
it refuses to recognize need for
athletics and physical development
Do you disagree? If so read this ar
ticle and be convinced. If you agree
read this and convince others
Belington High School is first
class high school with an excellent
corps of teachers. She is listed with
the Southern Accredfting Association
which includes only schools of the
highest standards in the country.
She has an enrolment of 1876 students
81 boys and 100 girls.
This sounds pretty good. 1t is
good. We have this equipment for
mental training, but what we want,
as well as mental training, is physical
training. Is it important? Think a
moment. Is it not the foundation
upon which all other training is bas-
ed? Of what value is good head
without something upon which to
carry it, without a powerful body
and sound physical constitution,
which is able to carry out the plans
of the mind
Basket ball is the best means of
physical education that can be given
to the boys and girls Of Belington
High School. Below is list of the
things which basket ball accomplish
es:
az 1t developes the coordination of
mind and body
~ It trains the youths to think
quickly and to put that thought into
action Immediately.
~ By repeated practice he gains
perfect control over the muscles Of
the body.
(4) He becomes accurate in thought
and movement.
90 In this case, as spectators can
easily see, the lad is trained to con-
troll his temper This training alone
might easily make basket ball profit
able to the young man, to the school
and to the community.
Learn to hold your temper, son,
said my mother many times but I
never learned until / lost it once or
twice on basket ball floor,' remarks
one athlete.
(6) Any teacher can tell you that
if school spirit is lacking, the school
is lacking in what would be a valu-
able asset Basket ball creates school
spirit. Anyone who has ever attend
ed ''thuse" meeting will never
doubt this.
(7)' Basket ball creates pride in
our school. Was anyone ever asham-
ed Of Belington High School when
the high school yell or song was COM
ing from the threats of $50 or 200
students :? When the boys come on
the floor at a game, doesn't it give
you feeling of pride? Didn't you
feel proud when Belington High
School, with no support from the
board of education, produced and sup
ported a team that won over Morgan
town, Millcreek. Parsons, Philippi,
Pennington, Masontown and other
towns, all of which had gymnasiums
connected with their high schools?
In Morgantown for last year alone
over $1,000 was given by the school
board to high school basket ball. We
a gymnasium, connected with the
don't ask for that much support. We
don't expect it. We would refuse it
we're it offered. What we want is
school if possible. 1t would cost a.
bout $4,000. That is not a guess. We
have figured it out with contractor.
We want it in time to use it this year.
It should be furnished by November
10th. in order to give US a good run