Evening star., 1941-04-25
Numerous Reflections
Are Showing Failure
To Learn From II
Eastern |. A. A. Director
Critieizes Physical
Troining Methods
BY LAWRENCE PERRY.

NEW YORK, April 25.-W1th his
experience as graduate manager of
athletics at Princeton and his pres
ent position as executive director of
the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic
Association, Asa S. Bushnell has
been studying the conduct of sport
at colleges and universities in its
bearing upon the physical condition
of young men called for military and
naval training.
Educational institutions, he con-
cludeS, have been misleading the
public. The fact that this has been
unintentional is the more clearly
apparent in that the educational
authorities have been misleading
themselves as well.
Although the high percentage of
reflections for physical disabilities OF
various sorts may not be charged
wholly to schools and colleges, Bush
nell feels certain the number OF re-
jections would be smaller appreci-
ably had the administration OF in
stitutional athletics been governed
by lessons learned through the ap-
plication of the draft in the first
World War.
Reflections More Numerous.
"The percentage of deferments or
outright reflections in 1917" says
Bushnell, was high. But that 1t
should be higher now than 1t was
% years ago is an indictment against
methods employed in the physical
training of our youth.
"Just before the first World War
and in subsequent decades, college
athletic authorities have issued i'm
pressive figures showing the partlcl-
patton of a great majority of under
graduates in athletics. These figures,
submitted with complacence, have
been received by the public with
equal complacence. But the picture
thus given has not been true one.
For, in reckoning the extent and
range Of participation in sports, the
activities of every boy who has
played a game of softbal1 on a Sat
urday, or a weekend round of golf,
or a few sets of poor-quality tennis,
have been included among the bene-
ficiaries of a grand system of sports
for all.
Percentages given indicate that
practically an entire student body
was involved either in intramural
or intercollegiate competition. They
were impressive, but not accurate,
and figures published recently con-
cerning the physical condition OF
boys of draft age reflect this in
accuracy"
Would Include All Students.
AS a remedy for what he regards
as a dismaying condition Bushnell
suggests a complete overhauling OF
college sport systems with the pri-
mary aim of making certain that
not only students of varsity caliber
in various sports receive advantages
accruing from competitive exercise
but that competition be devised so
as to include every student. Boys
would be active in categories grad
uated according to their ability.
For example, the system under
which 15o-pound football elevens
and 150-pound crews are organized
could be employed in all sports
major and minor. Where playing
areas are inadequate the fields could
be used on time schedules as is done
in the public parks. Where areas
are abundant-as they are at many
institutions-there would be no
problem in this respect.
Pooling around with basketball
in the gym, playing pass and catch
with a football or baseball-usually
a soft ball because regulation base
ball stings the hands-such exercise
does not meet the national need"
Bushnell said.
ut is clear that the responsibility
of an educational institution relates
In goodly degree to physical develop
ment as well as to mental and 1t Is
time this responsibility was met"