Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-05

the schoolmasters 10 urging the restoration
. the drill. -
" The drill having been restored has ord
been restOred1'
50 Yes, excellent ord err
" The present chaplain of the school, the Re
Charles q. Vignoles, who was present, expresse
his entire concurrence in the description give
Of the dsorganization produced by the discoi
tlnuanco of the military drill, which was illu
trated by entries in his own reports"
|! is no exaggeration to say, that, by intrt
ducing such system of drill into our school
we can obtain for the whole boy popuatio
some of the most important advantages Of Yves
Point training the early habit OF obedienC
and Of command, together with the aphabC
of military science.' The experience has FRI
quently been tried in private schools, always wit
certain favorable results. 1t has had, however
this drawback, that, az the drill has been thu
far special trait of certain particular semina
rles, and hence marketable quality, there ha
been rather temptation to neglect other thing
for its sake,-an evil which will vanish whe
the practice becomes general. la public schools
no satisfactory experiment seems TO have beef
made public, except in Brookline, Massachusetts
always one OF the foremost towns in the Stat
az to all educational improvements. ltappear
that the local school Committee. in 1868, De ci
Jed upon Offering to all boys above ten years 0
age, the opportunity to learn military drill
There was already drill-master in tho emplo,
OF the town, and hail appropriated for thu
purpose. The greater part Of the school boys
reported themselves for instruction Tbre,
classes were formed, consisting respectively o.
large boys who knew something Of drill, Of large
boys who knew nothing Of it, and OF small boyl
who were presumed Ignorant. The FIRST and
third classes proved entirely successful. The
second class proved failure, because il wal
made up Of pupils chiefly from On adult eve.
ming school, which was itself noi very sue.
cessul The total result of the experiment was
30 wholly satisfactory that the chairman OF the
town Military COMMITTEE urges its universal
adoption. lie considers it proved that " q per.
feet knowledge Of the duties OF q soldier can bo
taught TO the boys during their time of attend
ance at the public schools; thus obylating the
necessity OF this acquisition after tbe time OF
the pupil has become more valuable" He adds
A proper system Of military instruction in
the schools OF our Commonwealth would furnish
us With the most perfect militia in the world
and have very little doubt that the good sense
OF the people will soon arrange such q system
IN all the schools in the Commonwealth. >"
The general adoption of this method of in.
struction was officially recommended, in January,
1904, by special committee Of the Massachu-
setts Board OF Educa tion this committee con-
sisting OF Governor Andrew, Ex-Governor W ash
burn, and the Hon. Joseph White, Secretary of
tne board, 1t was afterwards urged by the Rev
James f. Clarke, another member Of the Board
10 On elaborate report giving many valuable facts
from European authorities. ID is not known.
however, that any legislative action has yes been
taken on the subject in any part of the country.
we DO not need more military colleges. One
is enough for the nation and all public expendi-
ture should be concentrated on that. But il is
as easy for children to learn the drill as to learn
swimming and the knowledge should be as
universal. For this purpose il should be made
a required part OF grammar school training. Of
course the instruction cannot ordinarily proceed
from the teacher Of the school, But il is the
growing practice oi our towns to employ instruc-
tors IN special branches who 60 from school to
school, teaching music, penmanship or calsthen-
ties IL is only carrying this method one step
iulantry drill Let this be prescribed by legis-
atlye action, in each STATE and it will soon
become universal. A uniform ought not TO be
required little effort would at least secure
)uttoned jackets, which are quite neediul for
good alignment, and hence for good drill This
icing attained, anything further is matter of
aste, not of necessity. As to guns and equip
nents, they should Of course be provided by the
'late or national authorities, probably by the
ormer, There should be State superintendent
i drill, and thorough application Of his au-
hority.
This is not the place to work out the detail |
i the system il is sufficient to indicate lis gen.
raj principles. Supposing oil obstacles con-
uored, and this introduction Of military drill
1to grammar schools to be successful, it may be
I'll objected that this does not give US militia.
Certainly not; bat it gives us the materials for
militia, needing only to be put together Given
hundred young men, Of whom seyenty-iye have
lready been taught uniform drill, and the
lylng OF time In their final training will be PRO-
lglous. Any officer, with such recruits, can
IN week what could not be done in month
18th men utterly unframed. Here also the
nghsh observations come in, to corroborate
nose often repeated, but less accurately in our
9n army.
Mr.. William Baker, drill master at st. Olaves
rammar School, stated that, " Whilst he was
the army, and having to drill recruits be has
'casionally met with individuals to each of
hom, from his bearing and action, he has said
ones, In what regiment have you been
10 answer was In none | was taught the
ill at school lie found the individuals al.
oct ready drilled they would be more complete
r service IN quarter of the time Of the pre-.
ously undrilled.
" The first infantry drilmaster Iin the Rich.
ond Military College, said he had had expert
Ice Of boys from the Duke of York's and the
oval Hlbernian Schools, and that they made
.celient soldiers, and required little or no ad-
honal DRILL aud that they were promoted to
non-commlssloned officers in large proportion.
" Mr ). b. Orchard, drill-master, has been
rgeant 10 the Sd Light Dragons. Whilst in
70 army, has had to drill, as recruits, boys who
ID been in the Duke of York's School, where .
ey had been taught the drill. lie found that =
ey took the drill in one third the time that it !
rs usually taken by other recruits who had !
en- previously undrilled, and took it better, - :
at is to say, the horse as we'll as the foot drill,-
though these boys from the Duke Of York rs ,
ID the Hibernian Schools had had no previous !
rss-drill."
1t is obvious that boys thus trained will not .
ok upon an occasional period of militia service !
tn the bashtulness of raw recruits, nor ye,
th the ennui of veteran soldiers. The revival +
their boyish pursuits viii create some fresh
terest; that they will take pride in exhibiting
9 training OF their respective schools, and will
pleased at finding the public utility of this !
rt OF their preparation. Instead Of being |,
'imary School for military duty, the musters i
d encampments will have the dignity of High !
hool. Young men will find themselves forminr /;
part OF larger battalions than ever before, . a
leed under abler oaicers,--engaged in more +
WMuch has said sfth, -, ~. n. '