“A good archer is not
known by his arrows.
1
ГН
E ORIOLE
At least onco a day
read a little poetry,
sing a song or look at
Dui uy ills auu.
a picture.
Vol. 3-No. 5
JANUARY, 1924
Published Monthly by Students of the Maryland
State Normal School, Towsen, Md.
SOCIAL VALUE OF GAMES.
Millard Garman.
The time has arrived when the
value of games is self-evident. In
times past, games were supposed to
be of value to the body only, to in¬
crease the physical power and stam¬
ina of the individual, which is a
reason sufficient unto itself to justi¬
fy them as a factor in improving
life. No connection, whatever could
be seen between the activity af¬
forded in games, and the subsequent
value to society. The people failed
to see how games aided the mental
development of a person, how they
functioned as character builders,
which, if directed in the proper man¬
ner, would ultimately end .in the
making of better citizens. In other
words, the social value of games was
lost to them.
Now, however, the significance of
games as an important factor in de¬
veloping those interests, character¬
istics and capacities that tend to
improve society and make for bet¬
ter citienship, is clearly and com¬
prehensively seen. That it (is an
important and vital agent in life has
been proved to us by the ancients.
Greece reigned supreme for many
years; during which she made num¬
erous valuable contributions to eivi-
lizaation, contributions that are he-
ing put in practical application at
the present time. Without a doubt,
afactor that placed her in this com¬
manding position as mistress of the
world was the fact that she believed
absolutely in the value of games i
and competitive sports, as shown by
the Olympic games. She considered
these games so important, so essen¬
tia! to her national life, that even
in the most desperate wars — wars
that threatened her very existence
as a nation — when the time for the
Olympic came during such a situa¬
tion, she would cal la truce and hold
these games.
Then, there is Rome. What a
mighty power she was and what a
tremendous influence she exerted
upon the world then, and now. Ro¬
man laws, form of government, and
other minor contributions have car¬
ried over to the present time. And
here, also, her love of sports and
games was an important element in
her conquering and holding the
world under her control for hun¬
dreds of years. Roman youths spend
hours every day in sport — throwing
the javelin, handling the sword and
improving his general physical con- 1
dition and acquiring proficiency in
Omt VICTORIOUS SOCCER SQUAO.
weapons, so as to he able to defend
his country or carry on new con¬
quests. Of course, the motives
о
fthe
Romans differed from ours in that
they did this solely from a military
standpoint. But that was her idea of
a good citizen, and we all know how
zealous, how passionate, how com¬
plete was a Roman's love for Rome.
So we see, that in both of these
instances, Greece and Rome, games
and sports played a great part in
their life and in their ability to sub¬
ject the then known world to her
authority.
Thorndike says that “Education is
the production and prevention of
changes.” The sanctioning and de¬
veloping of games would produce
very desirable changes by the letting
out of surplus energy that has been
stored up in the individual In a
beneficial manner to him and to so¬
ciety, and likewise prevent others
that would naturally rise out of a
condition that would extend its en¬
ergies into some other uudesirahle
channel, due to the seeking of some
other avenues for the escape of pent
up energies that would be impossible
if games were not held. For surely
a child must play and an adult must
participate in a certain amount of
physical activity to be able to really
enjoy life. By not doing this, he
would lower his own ability and ef¬
ficiency, and although he may have
heen fairly active, he could have ac¬
complished greater and better things
had he obeyed nature’s laws.
What does it profit a man to de¬
velop his mind at the expense of his
body? Of course, the superiority of
the mind over the hody is known
and can be accomplished to a cer¬
tain specific limit, but the fact re¬
mains that the mind can function to
a greater degree of efficiency if the
body is in a condition to perform its
regular duties in a satisfactory man¬
ner.
Now, the question arises, how do
games make for better citizenship?
The values derived from games that
play an important part in improving
I society are three fold. They .are
; physical, mental and character
' building.
, Many parents say that the child
receives sufficient physical activity
in performing his various chores.
But “all work and no play makes
Jack a dull boy.” The difference
between work and play lies in its
purpose. Work is physical activity
directed toward a useful end. while
play is physical activity for pleasure
and recreation. The essence of
pleasure is found in hoth, hut work
carries responsibility, discharged ob¬
ligation, while play is merely for
amusement and pleasure.
However, there is a more signifi¬
cant difference. Play involves indi¬
vidual and group contests not found
in work. Contests arouse combative
instincts vital to physical develop¬
ment. These emotions contribute
certain bodily secretions resulting in
physical stamina which work can¬
not supply.
Another advantage of play over
work is that contests enlarge the
(Continued on Page 2)
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