The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-16
Great improvements Necessary in Training
the Embryo Commanders
SPANISH VS.. FRENCH.
Tho Study Of Languages, Physics, Philosophy,
Engineering, Chemistry, Astronomy and
General Sciences Must Be Modified.
General Statement of Affairs at the
Military Academy.

WASHINGTON, July 49, 1872.
The following is the unanimous report OF the
Board OF Visitors TO West Point, just presented 10
the Secretary of War
BOARD OF VISITORS REPORT.
WEST POINT, June, 1872.
SIR-The Board OF Visitors to the United States
Military Academy for 1872, have the honor to SUD-
NIT the following report the actual state of the
discipline instruction. police administration, fiscal
afiairs and other concerns OF the institution. The
discipline of the academy has been excellent under
the admin stration Of the present superintendent
and Commandant, partly because OF the good
Judgment and soldierly qualities of these officers
and partly because Of the firm support which the
War Department has wisely given to the Superin-
tendent and the Academic Board. The visitors be-
lieve that, while the discipline is strict and severe
as Is essential in military institution, 1t also
the main just and judciously adapted to the ends
in view
The board cordially approve of the discontinue
within the last year of the system of eXactng
from cadets pledges on oath or on honor with
gard to their conduct Such pledges are objection
able as giving occasion for all sorts OF demoralizng
casuistry, and Us being confessions OF weakness on
the part Of the authorities, which are singuary
unadvisable In military school.
PUNISHMENT FOR OFFENDING CADETS
In general the visitors believe that the punish
ments used in the academy are duly proportiOned
to the offences for which they are inflicted; but
they find the punishment Of summary dsmisson
too severe to be made by regulation the only legal
punishment for the offence OF haIassing or modest
Ing new cadets, offence which may have many
degrees or Nervousness. Excessive or unreasonable
punishments give grounds for Legitimate complaints,
and DO more harm than gQou 10 the discipline OF
any place OF INSTRUCTION. There are, it Is true.
means OF avoiding the in Justice which the literal
enforcement OF the regulation, No. l22, would not
unfrequenty cause. Tie superintendent may
recommend to mercy a cadet who has committed
an t-epce which is really venial or the War De-
ytartnhent or the President may modify the
tence imposed by regulation; but inasmuch as the
bare existence OF regulation which is frequently
s S am SKI aS ana asove S ns
academy is to be deprecated inevitably injurious
to discipline, unless such interference is very
rare and very judicious, the visitors respectfully
suggest that there be added to Regulation l22 the
phrase employed in several other regulations relat
Ing to offences, namely :-"Or be otherwise less
severely punished, according to the degree of his
offence"
EMPLOYMENT OF PRoFANE LANGUAGE
It has seemed to the Board OF Visitors that some
Of the cadets needed to be reminded by the precept
and example Of all their officers and teachers, that
violence OF speech is as unbecOming an officer and
gentleman any other sort OF brutality, and that
II would be well to have 1t understood that in Sc
lecting young officers Tor duty at The Academy the
department look for men who quiet as they
are firm and self.controled they are energetic.
STEALING SLEEP AFTER REvIELLE.
BY Regulation ia, amended March 49, 1872
rcvielle is at five O'Clock A. NJ. from June to
September L; at six O'Clock A. M. rom November
to March !, and at half-past five O'Clock A. NJ. the
rest of the year; the signal to eXtinguish lights
being ten p NJ. during the whole year. The great
and the first inspection of rooms, and get from an
hour and half to threequarterso OF an hour ostoen
sleep. This violation OF the regulations mas been
wnked at for many years. because the young men
actually need more sleep than the regulation gives
them. The visitors respectfully suggest that the
regulations be SO changed as to allow every
cadet at least eight hours Of unbroken
sleep at all seasons OF the, year The
of the eyes in reading or study Immediately after
waking and before breakfast, and to violent exer-
else OF any sort before breakfast. In Difference to
H1.ic iuin tbn arh
breakfast should be placed US soon as practicaDie
after reveille.
TERMS OF ADMISSION.
The character of a school is greatly Influenced by
the quality OF the young persons who are admitted
to its lowest class, and the acquisitions Tor adms-
sion go far to determine this quality. The Military
Academy Is very dsadvantageousy situated in this
regard. Its acquisitions for admission are by no
means high those of the leading scientific and
polytechnic schools of the country. Indeed,
there many high schools and academies
al Vest Point The Averages age the
candidates for admission Is eighteen years and
eleven months; but these adult men are only ex-
amined In reading, writing, arithmetic, English
grammar and the elements of geography and
american history Many boys OF twelve could sus-
tain the examination with ease during the past five
years. The reflections for lncompetency, even at
this admission examination, have been from twenty
10 fifty per cent OF the whole number OF applicants
In spite of the fact that the candidates have re-
Gently had notice OF their provisional appointment
several months before the examination, the proies-
sOrs and instructors who deal with the lowest
classes Of the Academy testify that they have TO
teach the greater part OF the class how to study.
Much time is necessarily devoted to this preliminary
training. Opinions may dl1er as 10 the real causes
oil tins
VERY LOW INTELLECTUAL CONDITION
oil the majority OF the young men who gain admis-
sion to West Point or as TO the inevitableness oil
This condition OF things; but as TO the TACT tnere
can he no dispute. IL Is a fact which afects the
whole course OF study at the Academy, and II is
necessary that an examining board should bear II
constantly In mind or they viii be liable to do in
justice TO the teachers and the methods OF the
Academy. The reason for keeping the acquisitions
for admission to West Point low is that there are
parts OF the country In which a poor mans son can
get no instruction in any but the most elementary
subjects This argument, though reasonable within
certain limits, need not be pushed TO the extreme
OF allowing the most ignorant state or Territory to
set the standard for all the rest of the country.
Five years ago the requisites for admission were In.
creased by adding "a knowledge of the element OF
English grammar, OF descriptive geography par
ticuarly OF our own country, and of the history OF
the United States" to the earlier requisites
which were simply reading, writing and arithmetic
II Is never wise TO make sudden changes of great
moment in the requisites for admission 10 an edu
catiOna institution The Board Of Visitors, there
fore, while IL joins the many preceding boards
which nave reported upon this subject IN depiorint
the present low standard OF admission, would
RECOMMEND THAT THE STANDARD BE RAISED
in slow way, by successive small steps. ON
step would be the addition to the requsltons OF
portion OF elementary algebra, vE:-the groun
rules, fractions and simple equations. secon
step would be the addition OF quadratlc eauauo -,
TO this first requisiton Of algebra. tnird ste
would be the addition of PLAIN geometry III ID !
the power Of the Academic Board TO make muc
OT uttic vi IIe Tequsltions Actually PicsNiiuS. ~
Congress. The visitors observed with satisfaction
that II was the purpose OF the Academic Board U
make the admission examination searching AM
effective within It's very limited range. aegit
innate and wholesome effect OF ma
ional school, TO which admission Is oh
tained through well conducted examina
ton OF reasonable range, that II stimulates and
to some extent, regulates the lower schools OF tn
country The lower schools, both public and pri
yate, exert themselves to lit boys well for such ex
aminations Every boy who succeeds In passin
creditably the government examination wins
prize for the school which lifted him as well as 10
himself The strong effect OF the college eXamina
fions admission unOn the preparatOry sChOOl