When a school that has churned out accomplished sportsmen for over 150 years introduces cricket as a subject, it makes people sit up.
Classes on cricket for Class V at St Joseph’s Boys High School begin from Monday. The syllabus includes 50 lessons with classes twice a week. Principal Father Michael John said: ‘‘I am not planning to produce cricketers. I want to expose children to the game.”
Fr John was toying with the idea for about two years. He found the excuse when the Indian Council for Secondary Education proposed a third group of skill-based subjects, including two games, by 2005.
‘‘I planned it for the younger classes because I will have the freedom to experiment. If it works out, I will present the concept to ICSE,’’ he said.
The course involves games to instill team spirit, discipline, leadership, and lessons on the game’s history and rules.
A new school counsellor with specialisation in sports psychology has been appointed.