Evening star., 1944-04-20
Education Board
DeIaysAction on
Boxing Classes
Comdr. Gene Tunney
Quotes From 'othelIo'
At Special Hearing


further study" to the question Of
whether to give boxing instruction
In the senior high schools, despite
Endorsement by Comdr.
Gene Tunney, U. s. N, r.: Commits
sioner Guy Mason and eight other
speakers at special boxing hearing
held yesterday. The question was
referred to the Student Activities
Committee.
Boxing is the most intellectual
lied and noblest Of sports" Comdr.
Tunney declared. Such authors az
Homer, Hazlitt in the 18th century
and later George Bernard Shaw
wrote in praise Of boxing, he said.
I'VE must not believe, however"
Comdr. Tunney said. that because
great classicists write charmingly
about the sport that 1t Is all fine
and left to itself will develop char
acter and fitness
Explaining that he feared com.
mercialism might come from be-
hind" to taint high school boxing
here, the former heavyweight box
ing champion urged that only anna
teur boxers, with the pure ap.
proach" be hired as instructors.
Quotes From "Othello."
Comdr. Tunney interjected classi-
cal writer's into the discussion for
the second time when he quoted
from "Othello," by William Shake
speare, to answer the 16-line free
verse poem with which he was In
troduced as gentleman, scholar
and champion" by G. Melvin
Sharpe, board member.
Speak to me as am" Comdr,
Tunney said, identifying the quota
ton as Othello's.
Spectators crowded the room to
listen to the advice session." first
ever held by the board. The sex
perts" we're rounded UP by Thomas
p. Morgan, jr., member of the Box
ing Commission who offered com.
mission revenues to pay for the
instruction. Commissioner Mason
stressed however, that the Commis-
sioners would prefer to ask for a
direct appropriation from Congress
to teach boxing as part of the gem
eral physical fitness program.
While pledging support of the
G Commissioners, he emphasized that
the instruction must have mo tie
in with professional sport" and
must start in a reasonable way.
|healthfully fostered."
Controversy on Injuries
Controversy developed between
the speakers when Mai. Arthur
Essinger, Of the Surgeon Generals
onice. said injuries eventually hap
Ipened" in all boxing programs.
Comdr. Tunney retorted that q
black eye or bloody nose never hurt
anybody, and developed courage and
sportsmanship. Others who SAID In
juries can be avoided BY use Of head.
igear and 16-ounce gloves were Eddie
Lafond, physical instructor, Catholic
University; F. Rubini, head boxing
coach, University of Maryland and
Robert Mavity, physical education
director, Fairfax County High
Schools.
Frank A. Norton, administrative
assistant to William E. Leahy, Dis
trict Selective Service director,
quoted Mr.. Leahy as approving the
proposed instruction, If carefully
supervised. Capt. Edward Fitzger-
aid represented Brig. Gen. John T.
Lewis, commanding general, Military
District of Washington, in approx.
ing boxing instruction.
If approved by the board and sup
ported by an appropriation from
Congress, the boxing instruction
would begin experimentally in three
senior high schools from December
l, 1914, to March Is, 1945. Instruc-
tors would be given special training
before undertaking the course.
The board yesterday also received
a request from the Navy Depart
ment to move the Patterson School
next fall to be used as a community
house at the Navy housing project
at Bellvue. The Recreation Board
has also asked for the building, to
be replaced by a permanent struc-
ture further away from the run.
ways at Boiling Field. Decision be-
tween the Navy and the Recreation
Board will be made at the next
board meeting December 3.
Board members are also contin-
uing their study of proposed salary
revisions, including raising elemen-
tary school teachers $500 from their
present basic pay of l,400 and the
superintendent from $4,000 to