The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1934-10-18


Is forming directly foundation for
their future occupation or vocation,
the result will bring out certain
amount Of interest in their future
and help them to choose andzformu-
late new Ideas and interests into
something that will better enable
them to meet and enjoy their life
problems.
Everything in our system Of liv-
ing is based on scientific achieve
ment and our progress both intel
lectually and materially is measured
by the degree to which we have
learned to accept the facts Of
science. Science is interesting. It
deals with things concerning which
we already have, some general
knowledge; it explains the behavior
of less commonthings by relating
them to better known ideas. BY it
we learn to measure various
changes and to adapt them to our
needs. Most important of all
science teaches us what is called
the scientific attitude of mind
which leads us to substitute exper-
iment and reason for superstition
and guillibility.
Athletics in the High School cur
riculum in many schools has to a
great extent been overemphasized.
The idea to win at any cost has
been the upper most thought in the
minds of most directors in charge,
where this situation has been al
lowed to develop. You no doubt
have asked yourself this question
or have heard it asked many times,
what is the value of High School
athletics?" In answer to this I
shall state just a few of the many
reasons why I believe High School
athletics are important.
The individual experiences the
thrill of playing, learns co-opera-
ton, team play, craftsmanship and
consideration for others, he devel-
ops a strong physique. All these
things help to build character. The
advantages of athletics are many.
The individual is kept busy after
school in clean, fine sports instead
of mixing with individuals of du-
bious character and using his
spare moments in unconstructive
and often harmful play.
There are those who offer the
objection of the injuries liable to
be sustained by the average ath-
lete. But statistics prove that acct
dents of this nature are greatly
overshadowed by careless mishaps,
such as caused by automobile COL
lisions, etc.
We read about them in every pa
per but from the thousands of ath-
letic teams in action throughout
the country very few casualties are
reported.
In regard to casualties in athe-
letics and their causes let me refer
you to the article in the September
issue Of the Good Housekeeping by
Dick Hyland. This article will tell
you how it Is possible to eliminate
careless injuries by careful super
vision and training.
Are the individuals participating in
sports, in good health and condi-
ton? If not, then they alone should
be held responsible for the largest
percent of injuries sustained. We
as instructors Of sports can give the
proper care, methods and conduct
in their training, but it is impossi-
BILE for us to go into their homes
and check them to see that they
are living up to these rules.
In conclusion I believe that ath-
letics have at least three-fold
importance in the curriculum name
ly: O They learn how to do some
thing we'll. ca They learn to OBJ
serve the rights of others. (3) They
learn an appreciation of a method
ical procedure. Therefore as a re-
suit of this training they are able
to assume their place in the world
without fear and have a challenge
to their associates.
With the aid of their finely edged
sense of balance which they have
obtained through athletics, they are
able to hold their own in the great
est game Of all, where only the
fittest are able to survive.