Evening star., 1942-04-19
Woman Supervises
Boys in Sports at
Upper Marlboro
Tukes Over Duties
Of Men CulIed for
Duty With Army
BY THOMAS G. BUCHANAN.

With many of its male teachers
being called into military service
the Upper Marlboro High School
has undertaken the innovation OF
placing the physical education of all
its boys in the hands OF a woman
instructor.
According TO Wilbur A. Jones
principal, They are probably better
organized now than they have ever
been before"
The teacher who has fallen heir
to the job vacated in January by
Francis Mulvihill, now chief petty
officer in the Navy, is Mrs. Frances
Kiker.
In addition to supervising the
athletics OF all the boys at the
school, Mrs. Kiker directs the play
of girls in the freshman and sopho-
more classes. and also teaches
freshman general science and soph-
omore biology.
Teacher Praises Pupils.
She avoids excessive interference
In the games, contenting herself
with enforcing rules OF good sports
manship, maintaining safe playing
conditions and providing each child
with the opportunity to participate
In surprisingly short time, she
relates, she won the boys conf
dence.
They are nice boys" Mrs. Kiker
says. I'm not sure I could handle
really tough group"
She was wearing dark glasses last
week, the result of being hit in the
eye by Softball in an unwary
moment. Three softball games were
in progress in various parts OF the
field and Mrs. Kiker nodded ap-
provingly at good plays, interrupt
ing her conversation once to heckle
the third baseman good naturedly
for an error.
The boys are required to spend
some time each week even on sports
they don't like because Mrs. Kiker
has discovered that many boys, not
having had enough practice at .
particular sport, do not like to play
since they are not sufficiently eX-
pert.
An example OF this was pointed
out by Mr.. Jones.
Until this year" he asserted
I'VE couldn't get them to play volley
ball. Now We can't keep them of
the field"
In evidence of his statement 9
game OF volley ball was in progress
at the opposite end of the field
-Four girls were playing against an
equal number Of boys and the girls
were holding their own.
Mrs. Kiker regards volley ball as
an excellent sport for boys and
girls to play together. This is par
tlcularly desirable when large num-
berS of children are on the play
ground at the same time.
Field Day Next Month.
On lower field, couple of young
trackmen were warming up, per-
haps in preparation for the field
day TO be held at the school MAY
IL, at which not only track and
field events, but softball and volley-
ball games are scheduled. Jones
says he plans to invite the Baden
Oxon Hill and SurrattSville high
school to participate.
Until this year, Mr. Jones saws
physical education was not a sep
arate department at the school
Now all children are required tc
devote three periods a week to the
program. and Mr.. Jones hopes next
year to expand the course to include
two additional periods of health in
Struction.
You can't be healthy lust by
taking exercise" he observes. You
must also know how to exercise and
take care OF yourself and what food
TO eat"
Mrs. Kiker is assisted in coaching
various sports by other teachers
The supervision of junior and senio,
girls physical education is taker
care of by Miss Carolyn Timmons.