The Nevada Democrat., 1862-03-11
nrllltnrv rraInIng IN our schooIs

The question Of the introduction into our
public schools OF system OF military train
ing Is obtaining in the East the attention u
deserves. Governors Andrew, Curtain and
Morgan have each recommended II Tor leg.
isIatiye consideration In their messages; and
in different quarters II has been the subject
of resolutions and inquiry by local ednca-
tional boards The Mayor OF Bangor, Me-,
has introduced the military drill in the
schools of that city, under the authority OF
the Common Council; and many Of our
best Eastern schools and academies now
use It, and find It an inducement with pa
rents who wish TO place their boys at scnoOl.
In New York 1t has been already introduced
as q regular exercise In the Normal School.
In the report OF the New York State Super
intendent of Public Instruction, the intro
duction of military drill and training in
pub ic schools, Is unhesitatiugy recon-
mended.
The advantages of adding such q branch
of tuition to the common school course are
evident to everybody. The New York State
Superintendent says truly that-"a few
minutes taken each day from the hours OF
school, for the purpose Of going through
the simple evOluliOns Of military practice
aud the manual of arms. besides atfording
needed exercise and recrestion, would fix
thoseIhabits of prompt aud concerted action
that ease and facility Of movement In com
binatiOn and mass which would be the best
possible preparation OF citizen soldiery
for the sudden exigencies that have befallen
ns. If II be true that the child should learn
that which he will have occasion to use
when he becomes a man--and the propO'
sition is too self evident for denial-then,
in view Of the service which the citizen
may be called upon 10 render in defence OF
his country, does that preparation which
will make such service most effective,
become an important consideration IN the
training Of the chd?"
five desire peace hereafter we must make
ourselves formidable And though the sub
ject Of military training in schools strikes
Americans as novelty, 1t is by no means
so. -
A similar system was introduced by the
iron hearted Lycurgus into the primary ed
ucation of the Spartans, and it was owing
"a to this education that these people we're
rendered almost invincible In war. The
Romans, too, compelled every citizeI, when
he reached the age Of seventeen, TO be ex-
ercised In mslitary drill, and to undergo q
system of physical training which included
marching, running, leaping, vaulting,wrest-
ling and swimming, both armed and un-
armed Those countries like our own we're
dependent upon the people for their protec-
tion. Among the Romans every citizen was
obliged to take up arms in defense Of the
State when required, those only being ex-
eepted who were above fifty, and the lowest
class, who, from their poverty. were ex.
empted from military drill. That these
manly exercises eminently fitted them to
the duties of soldiers is selfevideDt.
Mr., Chadwick. who has paid much atten-
tion to this subject 10 England, states that
apFaetised drill master thinks pupils may
be drilled as early as at the age OF Eve
years. TIE joints are then more supple and
more capable of being properly trained
than at the age of adolescence. Besides,
what Is learned 10 childhood Is not only bet
ter learned, but rarely ever forgotten in af-
ter life. We advise, by all means, that this
important matter have the immediate and
serious attention Of our legislators. The
cost Is insignificant, and the advantages
cannot be Overrated. Had the system been
introduced Into our country ten years ago,
more money would 10 consequence thereof
have been saved 10 the present year than
would have been expended in drilling our
youth for century. Let as drill as we'll
as educate our children, and then we shall
always have an army ready for any emer.
gency.