“A good archer is not
known by his arrows.
but by his aim"
THE ORIOLE
At least once 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 increase
the physical power and stamina
of the individual, which is a
reason sufficient unto itself to justify
them as a factor in improving
life. No connection, whatever could
be seen between the activity afforded
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 manner,
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 developing
those interests, characteristics
and capacities that tend to
improve society and make for better
citienship, is clearly and comprehensively
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 numerous
valuable contributions to civilization,
contributions that are being
put in practical application at
the present time. Without a doubt,
afactor that placed her in this commanding
position as mistress of the
world was the fact that she believed
absolutely in the value of games
and competitive sports, as shown by
the Olympic games. She considered
these games so important, so essential
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 situation,
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. Roman
laws, form of government, and
other minor contributions have carried
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 hundreds
of years. Roman youths spend
hours every day in sport — throwing
the javelin, handling the sword and
improving his general physical condition
and acquiring proficiency in
weapons, so as to he able to defend
his country or carry on new conquests. Of course, the motives
оf the 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 complete
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 subject
the then known world to her
authority.
Thorndike says that “Education is
the production and prevention of
changes.” The sanctioning and developing
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 society,
and likewise prevent others
that would naturally rise out of a
condition that would extend its energies
into some other undesirable
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 efficiency,
and although he may have
heen fairly active, he could have accomplished
greater and better things
had he obeyed nature’s laws.
What does it profit a man to develop
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 certain
specific limit, but the fact remains
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 manner.
Now, the question arises, how do
games make for better citizenship?
The values derived from games that
play an important part in improving
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 obligation,
while play is merely for
amusement and pleasure.
However, there is a more significant
difference. Play involves individual
and group contests not found
in work. Contests arouse combative
instincts vital to physical development.
These emotions contribute
certain bodily secretions resulting in
physical stamina which work cannot supply.
Another advantage of play over
work is that contests enlarge the
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