Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-10-17
MILITARY INSTRUCTION.
Lieut.. Frler's Address at the High
School Monday Afternoon.

oSiOpl MOnudY RII6rnOOnt
An Entertaining Talk by An Army officer
on the subject of "Miiitary Discipline
in the Public Schools''-Benefits to lie
Derived from Instruction.
The second lecture Of the High School
course was delivered at the High School
Monday afternoon by Lieut.. james
Ill. Frier, U. S. A., military instructor
at Delaware College. The attendance
was large Lieut.. Frier's subject was
Military Tactics in the Public
Schools, and his remarks were deeply
interesting. f
He gave the origin of military in
struction in connection with educa
tional institutions. He stated that in
1862, shortly after the breaking out Of
the civil war, the scarcity of trained
soldiers in tho United States was an
parent, and Congress passed an act pro.
viding for the establishment of State
colleges where military discipline could
be taught along with other instruction.
He then gave brief history of the
State Colleges, and stated that from
the first detail Of 10 officers from the
regular army as instructors the number
has reached the legal limit, which is
100, or enough to command three full
regiments. With each officer, he
stated, goes the ordnance equipment.
The matter of clothing the college
boys in uniform was next taken up.
He stated that while the boys pur-
chased their own uniforms, it was no
more to them than buying any other
clothing, and he could see no reason to
complain of that. He said that in
drilling it is just as necessary that all
the boys dress alike as ii is that they
act alike, for il they were not required
to do so one boy would have on STIFF
hat, another SLOUGH hat, another an
old high hat, and SO on As the govern
ment maintains these colleges some are
of the opinion that the government
should buy the uniforms, but the
speaker said 1t would be next to an i'm
possibility for the government to do SO,
owing to the great number there would
be to look after, and the frequency
with which they are changing.
Military training, he said, is highly
beneficial TO all young men, and pupils
of schools in particular. 1t gives them
power of concentration, teaches them
how to carry themselves gracefully and
makes law abiding citizens out Of bad
boys He also spoke of the benefits to
health, stating that the II exercises
laid down by the code Of command
brought into play every muscle of
the body, while their carriage in the
ranks made them erect He stated that
he never heard Of any injury resulting
from taking drill exercise.
The speaker next took up the mill
tary drilling in public schools. Many
of the cities of the country, he said,
are introducing the tactics in the pub
lie schools. New York City alone hav-
ing 10000 boys drilling. while the
work is also going on in Chicago, Dem
YER, Omaha, Leavenworth and other
cities, and still others considering the
innovation. The instruction in the
public schools, he explained, ia volun-
tary, the instructor, as a rule getting
nothing for his services. In most
places where drills are taught the in
structors are from the National Guard.
The result, he said, is apparent, wher-
ever it has been tried, and it has proved
highly gratifying.
The speaker repudiated the idea adj
vanced by some persons that the boys
are made bloodthirsty by their mill
tary instructions. He said such is not
the case. The boys are not turned into
soldiers, but will make good material
il their services should be needed in
after years. He said even the men in
the regular army and National Guard
are not bloodthirsty; they are not anx-
ious for war.
He stated that in the United States
about 30, 600 boys attending the public
schools are receiving military instruc-
tions He spoke in general way and
made little reference to local matters.
Previous to the address short must
cal programme was rendered.
The next lecture of the course will be
delivered by DIR. N. G. Schaeffer,
Superintendent of public instruction
of Pennsylvania.
1t may not be generally understood,
but it is fact, nevertheless, that every
lecture of the course is absolutely free
to the public, and all friends OF educa-
tion are invited to attend.