New-York tribune., 1898-10-02
SCHOOLS FOR THE SOLDIERS.
THEY ARE MAINTAINED AT EVERY
UNITED STATES ARMY POST.

MEN NEEDING INSTRUCTION.
SCHOOLS FOR THEIR CHILDREN
II has been remarked that nearly all the criti
eism and fault finding on the part of enlisted
men during and since the war came from the
volunteers, and that the Regular soldier ac
eepted matters as they came, performed hi
duties and said nothing. This was due, Army
onicers think, to the fact that tie enlisted mar
IN the Regular service has daily proof Of tn,
officers care, and knows that everything /.
being done for him to make him comfortable
and his burden light. The enlisted man has thes,
proofs in garrison and on frontier service ant
Is better for il when he goes into active servic,
at the front
In proof Of this contention an officer referred
to the Army regulation which provides that a
each permanent post suitable rooms be set asid,
for use as library, reading room, chapel ant
school. The rule states:
The Quartermaster- General will procure anC
forward 10 post libraries such newspapers ant
periodicals and 10 post schools such school
books, stationery and school material for th'
use OF enlisted men as are authorized by tn.
Secretary Of War.
The regulations also provide that newspaper.
and periodicals shall not be taken from the IL
brary, and that schoobooks shall not be taker
from the schooroom except for the proper use
Of those attending the post school"
II is well understood and provided for in The
regulations that the books, periodicals, papers
and such other reading matter may be fur
nished for the schools are intended for the use
Of the enlisted men.
Although these regulations exist, IL is not gen
erallv known that instruction Of enlisted mer
Is a duty which must be performed by officers o.
the Army The soldiers school is not a myth.
said a United States Army officer, "and doe.
not exist on paper only. 1t is a working fact
and every one who has visited Army pos
and has seen II in operation must be impressed
with its usefulness. The regulations leave nj
doubt on the subject"
He read as follows
The instruction of enlisted men is a military
duty The post commander will detail an off
to conduct the post school instruction vii
be given by officers, assisted by teachers detailed
from the enlisted men. Commanding officers are
enjoined to personally aid and encourage those
needing instruction which will not be restricted
70 the elementary branches. but will extend tC
and include any subjects for which enlisted mer
under instruction may have an aptitude, ol
which they can pursue with advantage to them
selves or to the service. In the absence OF
proper textbooks instruction Will be oral Desks
and other material needed in schoorooms vii
be supplied by the Quartermaster.
The school terms at the posts aggregate no
less than four months in each year, and the ses
sions are held daily, Saturdays and Sundays ex
cepted The officers who act as teachers have
the assistance of competent enlisted men, ant
there is usually enlisted man detailed fol
teachers duty for every fifteen pupils
The Army school system does not end will
the instruction Of the men, The Government re
Quires that reports shall be made as to the prog
ress of its soldier schoolboys, and the Adjutant
Generals Department acts as a school board
The Adjutant General has general supervision
of the post schools Of the department, and re
ports annually to the Adjutant- General OF th'
Army condition and progress, setting forti
gpecifcally any case Of failure or neglect on th'
part of post commanders to take the prope
interest in them OF to facilitate their operation
so much for the enlisted man, said tn
Army officer But we do not stop there. W.
look out for his children also, and have schooi
st Army posts where they are not requested
but compelled to attend In Troof OF TINS
Army Regulation No. 322 quoted, whicl
reads
A, posts where the number Of children presen
will admit of it, and where there are no con
yenent educational privileges. schools VIII b
maintained at which the attendance OF childreI
of officers will be optional with parents an'
those Of enlisted men compulsory.
The enlisted men who act assistants Il
the officers in charge Of the schools receive al
extra conversation Of 30 cents a day, and thi
auoun; is paid t. them the year round" re
cardless Of the school term.
I, must no, be inferred from this that all en-
listed men attend school because the great ma
1ority need 10 instruction IN the elementar!
hranches The average United states enlisted
man can road and write
Much has brrn written about the care ol th