Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-15
Am ERICAN GUARD
Two Hundred Boys Of the First Bat
TALON Coming Tonight.
ANOBJECq LESSON FOR TIE YOUNGSTERS
How Patriotism and Civics Are
Taught in New York Schools.
AN EXHIBITION DRILL

| Upward of 200 boys. representing two
| companies of the first battalion of the
American Guard. will arrive in this city
this evening from New York for a two
| days visit to the capital. During their
stay they will see as much of the workings
| of the national government as is possible
| In the limited time at their disposal. The
| boys are all the graduates of the New York
| grammar schools, and the organization re-
| sembles somewhat the High School Cadets
| of this city.
The teaching of civics and patriotic train
| ing plays prominent part in the work Of
the New York public schools, and this visit
| to Washington Is intended to give the boys
an object lesson in addition to what they
| have been acquiring In the study of civics
| in school. The military drill is entirely OPP
| tional, and Is carried on outside of school
hours
Reception and Entertainment.
The command will be in charge of Col
| H. H. Adams, who has direction of the
| drills and military education of members of
| the American Guard of New York city.
| On their arrival they will be met by Mr..
| w. w. Eldrtdge of this city, who is an aid
| On the staff of the commander-in-cAief of
| the G. A. r.. In charge of that branch of the
work in this locality. The Corcoran Cadets.
| with Canton Potomac Field Band, will
| escort the visitors from the station to the
! Hotel Regent. where the boys will be
quartered during their stay. They will be
| under military discipline all the time.
Tomorrow morning the boys will visit
,the Capitol and the treasury, and will make
a call, by special arrangement, upon the
| President. In the afternoon they will visit
| Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall, stopping
| at Alexandria on the return trip.
They are said to be fine drill organiza-
| ton, and a pleasant feature of their visit
will be exhibition drill tomorrow morn
| ing at 1890 o'clock in front of the Airing
| ten. Should the weather interfere. the drill
| will be held III the Light Infantry armory.
| Sunday morning will be given up to drives
| about the city, and the return trip to New
York will be made Sunday afternoon, so
| that the boys will be on hand when school
opens Monday morning.
| System of Shutting the Flag.
The system which obtains in the schools
| of New York provides that in assembling
| in the morning the scholars march into the
| assembly room, according to the usual
| customs of nearly all public schools, in
| columns Of twos, filling both wings of the
| auditorium or assembly room, and at a
signal the wings inward face" after which
| a color guard with the United States flag
marches down the central aisle and halts,
and at signal the whole school comes to
| salute of the flag, after which the school is
seated and the colors are placed on the
platform, when the usual morning exercises
take place.
physical development exercises. after the
| ''setting-up' form. This method is re-
garded by medical men of distinction es
| the best process of physical development
| now known outside of the gymnasium.
| This and no more is all that takes place in
| the schools connected with what is ordi-
narily termed as military drill in the public
| schools.
In connection with this system cvics
| forms of municipal. state and national gov
| eminent in all the details connected there
Ixl.tth how vT1~
| is taught the responsibility Of citizenship
| the necessity of pure ballot. from which
is evolved government of the people for
| the people by the people. He is also taught
reverence for the flag, respect for author
| ity. prompt obedience and ito do right be-
cause 1t is right
No Interference With school Work.
This system does not in any way interfere
with or take the place of any school work
established under the ordinary curriculum
which has hitherto been adopted and car
ried out by the public school system of the
United States.
Outside of the school proper it is option
al with the members of the graduating
grammar grades and the young men of the
high school to organize companies, differed
by their own members, for the purpose of
self-development improved school discip-
line. self-reStraint. self-control, respect for
authority. to acquire under skilled training
a dignif1ed bearing, an erect figure. fine
carriage, cleanliness and appreciation of
wise leadership.
These companies drill once a week entire
ly outside of school hours, and in no way
connected with the school except under the
counsel and advice Of the principal, who
usually acts as commandment
The non-commissioned and commissioned
officers of the local national guards usually
volunteer to instruct the school cadets in
the manual of arms and company move
ments. ETC.. and the use of armories is
usually accorded to the cadets for drill
purposes. all of which is in charge of the
rational guard officers, which complies with
the law.