ng rifle
practice in the public schools among the boys over the age of 13 years.

The schools of the different States are organized upon many different
methods. The educational authorities not unnaturally are jealous of
their prerogatives. No outside organization could well introduce a new
subject of instruction in the schools without seriously interfering
with the educational routine. Consequently, however desirable it may be
that the pupils attending these schools should be taught to shoot, such
instruction can only be secured by the voluntary action of the school
authorities and with their hearty cooperation.

The result which has been attained by the Public Schools Athletic
League in introducing shooting in the high schools of the city of New
York has been so thoroughly tested that the committee are of the
opinion that that system should be recommended for adoption.

Few appreciate the magnitude of the New York public schools. There are
3 training schools, 19 high schools, 490 elementary schools, 2 truant
schools, and 1 nautical school; total, 515, with 14,500 teachers.

These schools are scattered all over the 326 square miles which the
city covers.

The registered number of pupils enrolled in these schools is about
600,000, which is more than the entire population of St. Louis, the
fourth city in the Union. Half of them are boys. The number attending
the high schools is about 20,000, a little more than half of whom are
boys. The College of the City of New York has about 4,000 male
students.

The vast territory over which the city has spread, and its congested
streets have made it impossible for the children (particularly in the
poorer districts), to get any physical exercise, and the physical
condition of many of them has in consequence not only become below
normal, but instead of spending their energies in play, as they do in
the country, the boys are led to join "gangs" and to become criminals.

This lamentable condition of affairs led to the formation of the Public
Schools Athletic League for the purpose of promoting wholesome athletic
exercises among the children attending the public schools of that city.
The league is made up from officers and directors of the board of
education, superintendents, principals and teachers, prominent
athletes, gentlemen interested in philanthropic work, and leading
business men. It was organized December 4, 1903, and its progress has
been so great that during the year 19