Friday, April 26, 2024
More from MPR

Sponsor

The letter calling for an end to girls competitive sports

The text of a letter written by Minnesota state education officials in 1938, calling on the state's schools to drop interscholastic sports for girls in favor of the non-competitive Girls Athletic Association.

State of Minnesota
Department of Education
October 26, 1938

To the Superintendent of Schools and Girls' Physical Education Instructor:

Enclosed are two copies of the report on the Girls' Athletic Association as prepared by a committee of the Minnesota Health and Physical Education of the State Department of Education. It is suggested that the Superintendent retain one copy for his use and that the other copy be turned over to the Girls' Physical Education Department.

In the same manner that the interscholastic and intramural athletics provide physical activity of an extracurricular nature for boys, and skilled athletes of the school, so the Girls' Athletic Association program provides for the girls of the school. If your school does not foster such a program, it is strongly urged and recommended that such a program be adopted.

In those few remaining schools still sponsoring a program of girls' interscholastic athletics, it is recommended that the interscholastic program be dropped and that the Girls' Athletic Association program be installed in its place.

The G.A.A. program will adequately meet the needs of the girls from a physical and recreational standpoint. Furthermore, it is in harmony with modern educational aims and objectives, and contains none of the objectionable features of the girls' interscholastic program which women's organizations in physical education and athletics abhor.

Questions relating to the installation and conduct of the G.A.A. program in your school will be promptly answered by the Division of Health and Physical Education.

Very truly yours,

Harold K. Jack
Supervisor of Health and Physical Education

Sponsor