Morenci High School - Senior Yearbook (Morenci, MI)

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Ulte F hucatinual alma Cl9f Qltltleiits THLE'1'lt.'S are becoming more and lll1.1'l' a it ?-RXNEBQJ national factor, not entirely for amuse- ? ment or physical betterment, but as an P educational factor in our schools. Suc- cessful men in all walks of life hold these things as outstanding qualities that have made for their success: Motovationg ini- tiativeg ability to organize: weighing of relative valuesg co-operation: willingness to observe. etc. These must be the outstanding qualities that must be sought in our educational system. whether in Latin. Mathematics. History, Athletics or what not. Any study or activity that contributes to these qualities has educational value, and I am attempting to show what athletics contribute to these qualities. Good sportsmanship is the Golden Rule applied to athletics. Moral qualities such as honesty. truthtulness. loyalty. and co-operation are included in that terni. Good sportsmanship is a matter of education and is not-confined to the size of the school or town. It depends, on the in- dividuals and the way the athletic contests are conducted. Our well conducted athletic events are good object les- sons of law and order. They are examples 'tothe social group, of good government. This influence is sure to have its effect on the numbers who attend Atlileticffga-mes. We are trying to make our athletic contests ysucb. that specta- tors are better citizens for having been there. A True enough. athletics can be made an evil thing. but good coaches can do more to remedy this evilg than any teacher or faculty member anywhere. Good coaches are the local heroes who have the opportunity to make or to break all the good of athletics. Get a gentleman first, and if pos- sible get somebody with a knowledge of the game, but look well to the first point, and if by chance you have made a mistake. dismiss your man, regardless of how many games his teams have won. ' Along' with good sportsmanship should go the ethics of athletic courtesy. Visiting teams are to be honored guests of the home team. Good sportsmanship does away with the little town stuff and athletics teach this principle better than any one study because the individual practices it. , A winning team means absolutely nothing if they win' for the sake of praise. and have a selfish end in view. and will no anything to win. If there is anything that shows up a team it is grand- stand playing. Successful coaches soon instil into their teams the motives of playing not for self but for othersg for their school and for the sake of playing the game. Athletics tend to make men who furnish no alibis, and who carry a thing through when once it is started. Elbert Hubbard put the same thought very delightfully in his essay on carrying the message to Garcia. Good coaches can develop in boys. the instinct of pugnacity so that they will have a back-bone instead of a wish bone. That coach who can develop in the fellows. loyalty to the school they represent and faith in training rules, and the determination to stick by them even if his team does not win, will win out. But the team that has these motives and ideals. usual- ly wins its share of victories. ' Another point that makes for success is initiative. Ath- letics tend to develop initiative in a peculiar way. The coach can explain fundamentals of different games, but un- less the team has some initiative to carry them out, they are likely to lose. An interesting' thing about athletics is the fact that no two games are alike. No two football, base- ball. or basketball games have ever been played alike and it is short-sightedness on the part of the coach to teach l1is quarterback to get all his signals from the bench. It also destroys initiative. The coach teaches his players to be able to adjust themselves to new positions and to do it quickly. by developing.: initiative which in turn develops co-

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operation and all successful teams arc successful because of co-operation. efficiency, etc. The Notre Dame football team for the past season has been an outstanding object lesson of just such virtues. The Four Horsemen were the best example of teamwork of the season. Everyone co-op- erated and obeyed the rules and was in his place at the right time so that the plays went across. Athletics also develops a good school morale and helps in the discipline of the school. Through athletics boys find opportunity to work off 'their' extra steam or energy, which is so characteristic of youth. 1 There are still a few persons who look upon athletics as an evil. But have those people ever stopped to think where some boys would spend their .extra time and energy if it were not for athletics. A boy or anyone in training has to keep himself in trim and follow strict rules which help to keep energetic young people straight. Clark W. Hetherington, a reliable authority upon this subject says that he has yet to find the boy who has done poorer wo1'k at school because of athletics, also. these sports improve our boys not only physically but also men- tally and morally. He has summed up the values in this way: 1 Class work is better. 2 The health of the school children is im- proved. 3 A wholesome school spir't is developed. 4 There is less trouble about discipline. owing to the clos- er relationship and better understanding: between the pu- pils and teachers. ' Athletics are an educational system in themselves. ev- cry game is an examination and shows the progress of the athlete during the season. - ', All of these principles and morals have been accom- plished and can be realized wherever the right kind of men are at the head of athletics andfllet us strive for the benefits and ideals of such athletic. contests in :the future. A V ,, Y.l'F. KJ25 eutur Cinasttng liilarttg H . tywws-'S THING the winter months the Seniors had decided that they wanted a slei,f:hing as well as a coasting party. So one evening n-fx in January when the air was rather fresh and the ground was covered with a beautiful white blanket. the Seniors ' met at the Hotel corner, and were taken 1- ' . 0 I L J LL t ' 1 ' fix. ' '- to Glark's hill in bobs drawn by two auto- mobiles. llowarml Barnesflittle Ford and Myrle Furgesonfs big Overland. Several hand sleds were attached to the bobs for those who wished to ride by themselves. When they were only 'ii short distance from their des- tination an-accident happened which caused much amuse- ment among all. The 'rope with which the bobs were fas- tened to the automobiles broke, and the entire bunch walked the remainder of the distance. After this little walk, everyone was ready to slide down hill. which they did during the evening. Now being rather tired of their fun, the party' jumped on the bobs and rode to Vanessa Moden's homej where refreshments were served. The merrymakers now being contented made their journey homenon the bobs again. Everyone had enjoyed the eveningrf and-'We1'efready for a good night's sleep. ' 1 rf. nfl .. Iwi. .