The management of athletics in public schools : a paper read before the Association on January 12th, 1886 / by George Fletcher.

  • Fletcher, George, Ed.D.
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The management of athletics in public schools : a paper read before the Association on January 12th, 1886 / by George Fletcher. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    If the examinations were so conducted, every boy (with the exception of those abnormally constituted) would be expected to reach a certain qualifying standard of mental and physical proficiency combined, and must show in addi¬ tion to a well developed brain, a robust and healthy mind in a strong and healthy body. I know that no regulations about the employment of spare time can male boys moral, but if we force them to live healthy vigorous lives, we help them greatly towards honest moral lives. And now in conclusion, what can we each individually do towards all this ? • I can assure you that in the school of over 800 boys, all boarders, to which I was medical officer for several years, I seldom had a boy in the sick ward I could not make a friend of by entering into some branch of sport with him. I may flatter myself, but I think I made many friends amongst those boys solely by entering heart and soul into their games. They learnt in a moment I spoke with under¬ standing and knowledge of my topic; they learnt in a moment that all the advice I gave them was sound and practical. They could respect my authority in matters of games and would appeal to me on numerous points for help; but I cannot expect you all to have my love for athletics nor to take the pleasure in them that I do, but beyond these points came that to which I will briefly draw your attention last, as it is one where I place my hopes that some good may follow the work expended on this paper. You can tell them first the great consequence of having a pure body and a healthy frame, and how a pure mind will help to regulate this. You can show them how a boy, who indulges in any sexual evils and above all in self-abuse, is seriously handicapped in any branch of sport. You can tell them that all sins of lust are forbidden strictly to a man in training, and how important it is that for every game or match they shall train by keeping themselves from fleshly lusts. You may even go further with the bigger boys and show them that the debauched man cannot contest in any.