SPORTS IN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 8

SPORTS IN SCHOOLS.

" POt-HUNTING " INFLUENOS

HEADMASTERS OPPOSITION

"WHOLE IDEA IS WRONG,",

" The last few years has witnessed the rise of a movement intended to Cnpl nr . 9 the control of games qud sports in secondary schools, and to vest that control in outiide bodies," said Mr. C. T. iJaior headmaster of King's College, at thni prize-giving ceremony last evening. " Drill rnd shooting contests innu mer . able, athletic gatherings, boring, B wi m . ming, and tennis tournaments too many to mention, bait trie trap for the uhwarv Cups and trophies for the so-called chare*. pion school in cricket, in football ln cadet work, have become the raga. Now in spite of the good intentions of th« K«tntlemen promoting these contests, I am of opinion—and my opinion is shared by the staff—that we here are as competent to control our games and exercises as any outsider, that sufficient provision is mads within the school for all legitimate aspirations of the boys, and that no good end could be served by entering teams and! competitors for the multitudinous array of contests offering. "Further, trophies in the past have had a tendency to engender unhealthy rivalry, and in some cases have imported bitterness into contests whose chief charm is an inducement to friendly striving and emulation. After all. games are played for the benefit a boy obtains from his prolimViary training.ar.d not to enable either school or individual to acquire facility in ' pot-hunting' or to provide cheap enjoyment and excitement to a crowded grandstand of enthusiastic and possibly ignorant part is v^s. " The whole idea is wrong. How can a boy attain a true sense of values whep ha sees such adulation paid to mere brawn while brains is passed over with a smile' or possibly a meer? And how can this publicity and notoriety inseparable from these contests bo good for the boy himself? At any rate, we decided long ago to restrict our activities to legitimate school contests. _ Kor have we»seen «ny reason to alter this policy. If our action does not please our well-wishers, I'am sorry, hut. I am also confident that they need mot fear that the _ boys of King's will lose anything of their old reputation for excellence in outside" games i,nd sport."