The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-07
THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
Annual Report Of the Board
Of Visitors.
IMPORTANT CHANGES RECOMMENDED.
Opposition to Appointments from
Civil Life.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 6. 1879.

4 SlV1l LILO.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 6. 1872
The annual report of the Board OF Visitors to tho
Military Academy for the year 1879 has just
ceiyed at the Department from the president OF
the Board Rev. Noah Porter d. D.. and president OF
| Yao College. The Board consisted OF Rev. DR.. Por-
ter General Henry l.. Abbott. United States Army;
| c. p buckingham, of Illinois; Row. William X Hall.
| of New York; George W Jones, of Ohio; Dorman b.
Eaton, of New York. and Robert h. Anderson, OF
Georgia. appointed by the President; Senator'S Will
! lam Window and John D. Gordon. OF the United
! States Senate. and James II. Blount. Eugene Hale
aud Robert NJ. McLane. of the House of Representa-
| tives. The Board organized on the 3D. OF juno by
the selection of Rev. DIR. Porter president of the
| Board, MI. Dorman b. Eaton. vice president. and
| General henry L. Abbott secretary. and the Board
proceeded to examine the institution in all Its
branches aud appointments. majority of the MEN,
bers were in attendance during the examination OF
the FIRST class and remained till the
of the examinations OF tho remaining classes The
several mttees into which the members of the
Board werc subdvded visited tho offices. buildings
and grounds and carefully inspected their condition.
examined the books or accounts aud the method Of
keeping them; conferred freely with the Superin-
tondent. oommandant and the other members Of the
Academic Board in respect to every subject of in
quiry which was proposed and attended with great
interest the military exercises. which in
structive and exciting feature OF the yearly exami
nation They treated with courteous attention
by oil the officers OF the post. Every part OF tho
institution freely open to their inspection.
Their questions answered with entire frank
ness Those features in the organization and con-
duct Of the institution which suggested any crti-
cism inquiry freely discussed and explained.
management of q system of military education by
tho national government were not disguised
It is suggested for the benefit Of future boards
and to expedite the business for which the Board Is
annually appointed. that it would conduco to the
convenience Of those who are appointed for this
service hereafter that compilation of the laws and
important facts In the history Of the Academy be
prepared as o guide for their inquiries. Such
board ought not to be Obliged to search volumes Of
| pamphlets in order to gain information which is
necessary to tho discharge Of its functions. Tho
! appointment for two years of one or two
| members of previous boards would facilitate the
TRANSACTION Of business and give creator weight ana
| efficiency to the recommendations that are made.
The Board reports that the cadet barracks very
| much overcrowded, and recommends that tho wing
ought be extended according to the original plan.
First Lieutenant s. NJ Mills Fifth artillery. is spe
| cially commended for the manner in which he dis
charges the duty of supervising the mess arrange
| ments OF the barracks.
THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
| Under the head OF government. including organ
ization. police discipline and drill the report con-
| tinues:-
| any changes in the laws and regulations which
| govern tho institution. Their wisdom has been
the military profession and the soldiers life They
believe also that the traditions OF the Academy
its unwrtten law sustain and enforce the virtues of
truth and honor with energy and impartality
which deserve the highest Communications. They
regret to be obliged to add that the virtue OF cour
tesy toward tho stranger and the unprotected which
has been generally accepted as cmphnticaly soldier,
n is aaa Of then ss nswS
admitted classes. They are happy to mud
evidence that the present superintendent has
by wise discretion in the administration OF disci
pinc, in such way to soften the rigors without
| Weakening the force OF military rule. They ind
evidence that he is sustained in this wise policy by
the members of the Academic Board. and believe
that during the seventy years Of the history OF the
institution there time when lis discipline
was more wisely administered. and the spirit and
aims OF the officers ana cadets were deserving OF
higher commentator. At the same time they de-
sire to rcafirm truth which is easily overlooked In
any educational institution, perhaps most easily in
an Institution under military law that tho personal
influence of the men who administer its instruction
and discipline IRE of greater consequence than its
regulations and its penalties.
There is one point in tn. exercise of discipline
which needs to be carefully guarded and that is the
thorty influences OF this Board is related to tho
instruction and examination of the cadets or the
determination OF their rank and place in the corps.
its decision should in all be ANAL it being UNI
derstood. as a matter of course. that the Superin-
tendcnt concurs in the same. Whatever discretion
any superior civil military officer may find
occasion to exercise. the mitigation reversal
of any or the decisions of the teaching corps
which concern the intellectual performances of
their pupils or their rank or status. as
the rishtful authority Of those who IN such cases
may be presumed to be the only competent aud i'm
partial judges. Even the recognition OF tho posi-
bility of tho Interference OF any higher authority
only BIO disastrous. Uncontrolled academic free
dom of teaching and untramnellod academic author
ity In examination are the necessary conditions Of
academic success Tho responsibility OF the instruc
tor to his military superior. and of the cadet to his
instructor, officer, should, in our opinion.
be interrupted such q way interfere with the
free and unchaiengod exercise of those functions
which essential to the enforcement of intellec-
ruE APPOINTMENT OF CADETS.
radical change in the method of selecting re-
cruits for tho higher military service of the country
is urged absolutely necessary. and is based upon
the consideration that such change would render
1t easy raise the terms of admission and thereby
to enlarge and elevate the curriculum of study.
Under the operation of the present system
instructors are necessarily employed for nearly a
year in giving instructions in those branches of cle-
mentary knowledge which are Taught in the public
schools of the country. While Tor many reasons 1t
may be conceded that its pupils should not be adj
mittcd ut an advanced ago. 1t Is only reasonable to in
sst that it's lowest class should have mastered as
much elementary knowledge may be gained by
the average OF the graduates OF our highest public
schools.
The Board recommends tho substitution of German
for Spanish as being of the foremost languages
OF science in all Its branches. the military included.
1t liz suggested that rigid uniformity 10 carried too
far for the benefit of the cadet and that greater
r!cty IN tho subjects taught and in the manner of
teaching would make the system elastic, micro
exciting and moro efficient. and at the same time I'M
part still greater effectiveness TO its discipline Tho
method of selecting and appointing new recruits and
the qualification for admission to tho academy Is
discussed at length and changes suggested.
APPOINTMENTS rIoM CIVIL LIFE.