Fairhaven High School - Huttlestonian Yearbook (Fairhaven, MA)

Page 12 text:

10 THE HUTTLESTONIAN The Advantages of High School Athletics “1 he title should be more appropriately termed the ad¬ vantages vs. the disadvantages of High School athletics,” due to the fact that both sides present strong arguments. In dealing with a subject like this, there are several aspects of college life which must be taken into consid¬ eration. One should ask himself the question, What do I want to get out of college?” And in asking himself this question one runs into difficulties. Some people go to college merely to benefit from the education which the univer¬ sity offers. Others, to take advantage of the associations, con¬ tacts and the general prestige which they receive upon grad¬ uating from such an institution. In my opinion, the happy medium is attained when the person benefits equally from the educational standpoint, as well as from the advantages which the associations and mingling with other people and types offer. The relation with fellow students cannot be attained in any better fashion, I believe, than it can upon, let us say, the basketball court, the rootball field, in the gymnasium or even on the debating team. There you are put through a test, your companions are put through a test, and that test is as difficult and worthy of consideration as a mid-year examina¬ tion which tests your knowledge of the studies you have pursued. Upon the athletic field, the individual is embodied with the spirit of cooperation, the task of facing problems and meeting them in the right manner, of carrying out what has been assigned, without flaw, with the joy at trying his strength, physical and mental, against that of his opponents and with the ecstacy he feels upon finding that he is superior. Are not these factors important in molding life for the future, when one is to encounter the same problems out in the busi¬ ness world? Of course, we must take into consideration again, the per¬ son’s future. If a boy or girl is interested solely in the art of

Page 11 text:

THE HUTTLESTONIAN 9 He was over the spot known as the Great Hole”. From now on it was dead reckoning. With a hasty glance at the wake, the captain fumbled for his watch. Doing six knots, course nearly north, thought he. In just ten minutes he would have to tack abruptly and beat out of a treacherous channel. Nine minutes passed. Five by the mark, Sir”, came the voice that was like Gabriel blow¬ ing his horn for the judgment day; and the captain, muttering that they must be doing a little better than six ordered the helm put down, and slowly the Venture” swung up into the pelting wind. She came to, heading in the West nor’- westerly direction. Again came the judicial cry, Three and a half by the mark”, and the captain glancing apprehensively at the dancing waves spoke a few words to the helmsman, who crammed the straining ship a point nearer the wind. Two fathoms, Sir, and rocks ahead!” rang a startled cry, and as the Venture” turned slowly around she lowered in a trough grating against a coral reef, with a sickening sound. With the next swell, however, she slid free into the open water and headed for a hidden harbor used so often in a case like this when man and the elements seem to hinder the pro¬ gress of traders”. A shock, even though slight, may have disasterous effects upon the garboards of old ships, and this one was no exception. Much to the concern of the captain and crew, the water rose steadily in the hole. The men sweat at the pumps, but still the water rose. There was no alternative but to beach her in some hidden cove, such as abounded in this part of the sea. And so she lay, high and dry on the sands; the sea and the storm had accomplished what man could not. The sailors of this unfortunate ship called it luck, but the London Board of Trade called it the will of The Almighty. David Swett, ’36

Page 13 text:

THE HUTTLESTONIAN 11 coaching or instructing physical games and sports, then there are colleges in the country to receive such prospective en¬ trants. Here athletics are stressed in the preparation of youth to go out and develop the younger generation in the proper manner. It cannot be denied that a body, in order to exist as a healthy organism, must have a certain amount of exercise. Then we have other institutions throughout the world whose sole offer is educational. However, the majority of our universities offer both education and physical training to their students. They realize the advantages that one confers upon the other. I am quite certain that I am justified in saying that there is too much stress laid upon the outcome of high school con¬ tests. Of course, every organized team wants to outdo an opponent, but one must consider how needless it is to condemn a team and its instructor because it has proven inferior to another team. The primary advantage derived from the con¬ test is the same on both the losing and the winning side. The loser learns how to take defeat and come back fighting the next time with improvements enabling him to win. The winner must learn how to control his joy at winning and try to maintain that joy. In either case, a benefit is derived. Then why all the discontent on the losing side? It would be needless to enumerate the advantages which high school athletics offer. Judge for yourself by appraising the products which this department is now putting forth. Who are the leaders of your classes? Who are the healthy individ¬ uals in the school? Who has all the friends? Who is enjoying his four years in high school? The answer is quite apparent. If a fellow has participated in high school athletics and intends to pursue the same sports while in college or even out of college, he naturally has that advantage over the fellow who had no previous experience. Every person is entitled to his or her own opinions, however, and if he feels that athletics will be just a waste of time in the pursuance of his vocation, in which athletics will