EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISES 357 



are brought under the supervision of the Superin- 

 tendent of Public Instruction. 



In 1919 the legislature created the Athletic Board 

 of Control which was to license and supervise box- 

 ing contests in the State. The statute provided that 

 all the earnings of this board should be expended 

 for the promotion, stimulation and supervision of 

 physical education and athletics in the public schools 

 of Michigan. The expenditures were to be distrib- 

 uted by the chairman of the Athletic Board under 

 conditions determined by the Superintendent of 

 Public Instruction. It was purposed that the funds 

 should accrue primarily for the benefit of the rural 

 schools which were quite without facilities for ath- 

 letic recreation. To ascertain just what the condi- 

 tions really were, a questionnaire was distributed 

 among the commissioners of schools. From the an- 

 swers received, it appeared that tlie first need of the 

 rural schools was for recreational material ; secondly, 

 for instruction for teachers in the fundamental prin- 

 ciples of play, recreation and physical education ; and 

 finally for supervision and leadership in the work. 

 The first requirement was satisfied in part by the 

 purchase of athletic material out of the funds pre- 

 viously referred to. The limited amount of money 

 available would not permit the uniform distribu- 

 tion of athletic material to all the schools of the 

 State, so the board of control wisely determined to 

 make provision first for the small rural schools, next 

 for the small towns, and finally for the cities. Under 

 this plan, balls, bats, and other similar equipment 



