River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-09-02
West Point Academy.

The Board of Visitors to the West
Point AIilitary Academy have submit
ted their report to the Secretary of
War The Board consisted of Nj. Rus
sell Thayer, President A. l.. Chaplin,
of Wisconsin, and others. The exam
nation by the Board has been very
thorough, and the result of their OBJ
servatlon relative to the daily routine
Of instruction in all departments of
the Academy was extremely sntisfac-
tory. The zeal and abil.y of the profess
sors, instructors and assistants, were
everywhere manifest. The Board re-
commend that the course of instruction
should, if possible, be somewhat en-
larged by allowing some time to be
given to literary and historical studies.
and to exercises in elocution. The
Board are aware that the object of the
Academy is to give purely military
education, but even a purely military
education cannot be said at the present
day TO be complete which excludes
wholly from its course instruction in
history and letters. The fact that so
many of the last appointees failed in the
literary examination is commented upon
by the Board, and they take occasion to
say, from their own examination on the
spot, that this result is not due to any
undue elevation of standard of admis-
sion, nor to any excessive severity of ex-
animation but in some cases to in son-
siderateness in making the appoint
ments, in Others failure of the
appointee to appreciate the honor and
duty TO which he is called, in few
others to lack Of facilities for prelimi-
nary education, and most of all to want
of thoroughness in schools in the
country with respect To their primary
work The academy owes it to itself
and to its influence as national
institution on the whole sys-
TEN of popular education to
render and publish TO the world it's
honest verdict. II our school boards
anG superintendent and teachers in
the country will but heed the verdict,
and use diligence To correct this great
defect, some good may come from the
notifying experience of this years
examinations for admission to the
Academy. The Board recommend that
all academies be summoned to the
Academy one month before the exami-
nation, and that instructors be detailed
to instruct them daily in the studIeS
upon which they are to be examined.
The outrageous practice of "hazing
new cadets has been, In n great meas
ure, suppressed by the firm and vigilant
management OF the Superintend-
cut The Board report that efficient
progress is being made toward the
total determination of this practice.
In conclusion the Board report that
the present condition OF the Academy
is in all respects sound and good, and
that il is fulfilling the purpose Of its
establishment in a most satisfactory
manner, rejecting honor upon those
charged with its administration. For
ten years its beneficial influence
has gone forth, repaying its
debt of gratitude to the
country and making record which
renders il impregnable to all assaults
and secure in the confidence, pride
and affection of the people Of the
United States. No longer upon the
defensive or requiring vindication. its
results are written in imperishable his
tory. No longer n founding barely
existing among the mountains, il pre-.
sent5 itself now in the full maturity of
its strength aud manly vigor, recog-
nized and maintained as the acknowl-
edged and cherished offspring OF the
nation.
The hembine will, from a single