The Helena independent., 1894-11-15
THE POST SCHOOLS.
Some Of the Obstacles to Their Success and
the Need Of BottOr Educated
Soldiers.
THE TWO POINTS lNTHENEw SYSTEM


season OF tnc army btghn ON lnu'NuAg
last A new law which promises 60
relieve the schools OF some primary
tasks, requires that, except IN the cnso
OF Indians. no nrst enlistment shall
hereafter be made OF n man who cam
not read, write and speak the English
language. Secretary Lamont has sup
plemented this law with notification
that even re-enlistments OF men thus
handicapped In their usefulness, al
though not prohibited, are not favored.
The result viii very soon he seen in
the work of the post schools which will
mo longer have this very elementary
work OF teaching men 20 read and
write.
A man may be an excellent private
soldier who cannot read written or
der. He may thereby be cut on from
promotion 10 the cheyrons, but his brav-
cry. fdelity sobriety subordinntion,
and soldicrly skin may make him priced
by his commanding officer Tar more than
some comrnde who has beop well taught
IN the schools, but has no military APP
titudes Nevertheless. the belief now
Is that. with so few recults TO be en-
listed, there is not the slightest need
OF taking men who cannot read. write,
and speak English.
There are really two points involved
In the new system, one Is that OF
avoiding the enlistment or foreigners,
who are under the disadvantage OF
both not making themselves under
stood and OF not understanding 9TH
ers. The Importance Of this point is
seen IN cases where troops may be em-
ployed on such duties as those of last
summer, in preventing and suppress
ing riots. sentinel is ill-fitted ia per-
form guard duty, either In city or
other civilized community. who cannot
talk or understand English. &. And at
one time when a paymaster was robbed
while travelling with an escort In Wy
oming. court OF inquiry found, among
other reasons for the loss. that Ser
geant Fox, who Is a foreigner. by rea-
son OF imperfect knowledge of the Eng
llsh language. and Private Gregg, by
reason OF want of sufficient intelligence,
We're not proper persons to entrust with
the very important and responsible
duty OF guarding a paymaster with a
has also been made OF the inability of
a soldier to give orders TO prisoners
under his charge.
But apart from oral communication,
there Is the question of reading and
writing. In the report OF Gen. Breckin-
ridge made year ago he noted that OF
1853 prisoners sent 10 the Leavenworth
military prison. sixteen were unable to
read and twenty-one were unable to
70 AZ 81 tHs.l
men ought never to have been enlisted
in the army, considering the school
facilities Of the country, and also the
dangers both in garrison and field from
such ignorance. OF course the lack Of
schooling may be due simply To early
nisfortunes; but he considered that it
generally betokens such a restlessness
and lack Of steadiness Of purpose as
would dlsqualify men for the military
service, and IL throws a needless bur-
den upon the army.
The post school. relieved hereafter
from the necessity of teaching men
even the elements OF reading and writ
Ing, may have more time at command
for other purposes. The report Just
quoted found the condition OF num-
Der Of the post schools not especially
encouraging. II seemed difficult TO ex-
plain whether the lack of success in
ttAAAf 'sAFAC WIS hlf W lilt compulsory
feature, 10 the character Of the men.
10 the defects OF equipment, or 20 a
combination Of these causes. 1t was de-
clared that nearly all civilized nations
seemed 10 have better schools for en-
listed men than ours. and among the
suggestions thrown out was that
board OF officers might prepare text
books specially adapted for military
schools, and also that the inspectors of
small arms practice might be entrusted
with supervising the schools. as the lat
Ter are IN session at the time when tar
get practice Is not generally carried on
Gen breckenridge Found that lack of
Intelligent manag mCrt was sometimes
SHOWN lu th" hours Ut which the
schools were Dpru these conflicting
with Tie military duties required both
OF pupils and teachers. Another diff
ilcuity is thought To be th. varying
standards ~ company commanders
who select tho men required 10 attend
school The men belonging to different
companies lu The sam" Purris d. MAY
hnd out that some uI forced To- attend
school who are better educated than
others WHO are not compelled To attend.
This may result lu sense OF griev.
ance and an indifference on the part of
The pupil one reason why the inspcc-
ton "f schools Is not more thorough
IS mat they are ofte1 not Ia session
during the Wait pt the Inspector to ok
amino the condition 80 the troops.
The system of post schools was cstab-
hsncd hy congress over twenty-five
years ag). II being prescribed that the
men should hn instructed "iu The com
mon English hrpnchca OF education. and
especially in thn history uf the Omitted
SHt's, Regulations have been adopted
"a .