FOOTBALL AND MORALS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1130, 18 May 1911, Page 6

FOOTBALL AND MORALS

SEVERE CRITICISM. BY A MELBOURNE SCHOOLMASTER. WOMEN MADE MANIACS. Interesting details are. to band in regard to n stand taken by Mr. Adamson, headmaster of Wesley College, Melbourne, who at the of the football season issued a. circular to the parents of the. lwys' at his college, which loused tho football element. In the circular Mr. Adatmon says that last September an important conference, was held at the Melbourne Grammar School, consisting of representatives appointed by tho councils of the public -chcols, who met to discuss questions relating to the government of sports in schools. Among the resolutions passed was the foilowiiiE-.—"That it is not desirable for school boys to play in senior football niatche.-." This resolution was arrived at partly on the ground that, as tho game was at'presont played, boys were, liable to injury, and that their school games provided sufficient outlet for their energy; but the general opinion expressed by members of the conference was also that, while the conduct of senior fcoibail and its surroundings were (is at present, if was undesirable to expose boys to aiiy intimate contact with it. "I feel very strongly," said Mr. Adnmson, "that to carry out the spirit of the conference's resolution it is incumbent upon all connected with Wesley College to abstain from taking any active part in senior football as at present conducted under (hi! management of tho Victorian Football Leagues or the Victorian Tootball Association. In the past some boarders havo asked for leave to attend senior football matches regularly every . Saturday afternoon, and have been allowed to. I do not propose to allow this for tlio future unless they are accompanied by relatives, or by friends of mature judgment. Ido not think that I. shall be accused of opposition to football—properly played, .one of tho finest of games. In justifying 'my position, I may say, firrf of all, that 1 hold as absolute-postulates: "(1) That any game, in spite of its possible advantages, is useless, and to bs avoided, unless it is regarded also as a moral training in controlling temper, in unselfishness, and in the virtues of hardihood, chivalry, and learning how to loss decently.

"(2) That -where considerations of money and its advantages enter into the playing of a game that, game can scarcely provide the moral side of play above stated. "I think no worso of a man because ho is a professional, or one who lives by a game, provided he does so honestly and straightforwardly, and plays the game as it should bo played from tho moral standpoint; but, "taking the history of all, sports unon which the curse of large gato money lias descended, 1 do not know of one, excent cricket, which has been able to survive Hie disaster of wealth, and retain its utility and purity.

"Almost a worse evil to our people in general is the sappins; of judgment in those- who form the crowds which in thousands and tens of thousands attend senior football matches. The average attendants at such matches, many o£ whom would bs Iretter employed in playing some game themselves, go as blind supporters of ono of two teams. All that their team does is right. All that the other team does is wrong. The judgment which should temper all enthusiasm in sport' is entirely lacking. Even women—and as increasing number of-these attend senior football matches—give themselves un (o the excitement of tho moment. I I',ive seen ladylike, quiet-looking women, excitedly applaud acts of violence committed by players of the club they support, and heard expressions which showed blind indifference to the excellenco of the opposite side. I have seen respcctablelookinc women transformed into racing maniacs, who struck or jabbed with umbrellas at players of the successful side, who had beaten their favourites. To quolo from tho Melbourne 'Herald' of Saturday evening, April 29, even at St. Ivilda a quiet, suburb, with a team of superior personnel, it is stated :'A stron" barrier for tho protection of the nlayers has been erected.' I cannot but 'feel that where excitement of watching games so disturbs the judgment, and even the decency of our woinenkind, there is danger loi- the unborn ceneration, which all lovers ot true sport, and, indeed or onr race, should combat to the brst ot their ability, whatever unpopnlnvftv they may incur in tho process! I liaro not arrived at the above conclusions without careful thought and inquiry l\ t yCai 'n l oCCasi ?" all -V drove to a man}- as three senior football grounds in an atternoon, spending perhans a q ai* ler of an hour, or twenty minutes at each, in order to observe tho demeanour phve P A Cfat Tt' i an , d t1 , ,0 ™»<l«* of ill pia.\eis. It is largely on what I siw T , 1 find myslf compelled to take up.the position which I have stated."