The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-10

extent Of tine work in the public high
school, and New York in the private
high school. Outside of these states he
had sought a few opinions from cities
where especial attention has been paid
to this matter. He read the answers
had addressed to each principal OF
public high school in the states of
Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, New
Jersey and the District of Columbia
that gave instruction in military drill
to more than so young men; he did the
same with each private high school or
academy, asking his judgment as to
three points.
First-The usefulness of military
drill to the students physical culture.
Second-To his intellectual and moral
wellbeing.
Third-To making him valuable as
citizen soldier.
Two Propositions.
The chancellor then offered as an in
duction from the data given two prop
ositions.
F'irst-Instruction in military tactics
in public and private high schools so
far as tried has been eminently useful
to the boys and to their teachers and
the nation, and therefore this conven-
ton should organize propaganda to
seizure The GXuenSlOH OIL lHSIEuCIIOIl III
the high schools until instead of less
than per cent. of the public high
schools giving such instruction. there
should not be per cent. neglecting this
instruction. Also in the private high
schools, so that instead of less than Is
per cent in any one of the five diyis-
ions Of our country that give such in
struction, there should be less than Is
| per cent. not giving 1t.
SacOnd-1n communities where no
high schools exist and where boys are
continued in the grammar or common
schools until they are is or 16 years of
age, this convention should encourage
such schools to give military drill such
as is elsewhere given in high schools.
Further, that grammar schools should
be encouraged to introduce the various
Setting up exercises" as valuable
and easily arranged gymnastic. Beyond
this, as rule, the grammar school
should not attempt any military tactics.
For athletic purposes, the chancellor
said that military drill was more easily
given to a high school of several hun
dred boys than any other bodily exer-
else, and also that for the time and ex-
pense involved it was more effective
than any other. The best single exer-
else possible for the body is marching,
he said; that gymnasium drill and track
| athletics do not seem to do much to-
wards teaching boys how to stand up
easily or carry their bodies gracefully.
Ascending beyond physical results, he
| said that marching to music eultivates
the ear and rhythm Attention to or
ders cultivates alertness of hearing,
| prompt movements and concentration
of thought and WILL it discourages dis
putatiousness; 1t brings into contract
individualism and organization, and
emphasizes the Importance of the lat
ter. He declined to place military drill
very high for either mental or moral
training because it does not condescend
to give reasons for anything, but for
boy to learn that there are times
when he must obey simply because au-
thority is one part and no small part
of an education. He said that the SUI
| preme argument for military drill in
our high schools is that it makes for
peace. Therefore he should give the
highest drill and the completest organi-
zation where it will get the highest in
tellectual training and most thorough
| moral culture. We do not want, he
said, large standing army, but we do
want the eighty thousand men that ev-
cry year leave the high schools Of this
country, every man of them competent
to drill a company. If eighty thousand
such young men went out into the
ranks of citizens every year, and I
would add to their number the college
graduates, we should have in few
years one man in 10 or at least one man
in Is that would know little of mill
tary tactics.
A Wise Course.
He commended the wisdom of the
government in allowing military off,
GERS in times of peace to be assigned to
our colleges and universities to in
struct in military tactics. He said he
M nj nf hn
900 boys that go out of our schools ev
cry year into active life had enjoyed
two or even three years of drill, that
we should be one particle more likely to
march into Canada or Mexico or to take
ship to conquer either Europe or Asia.
Nor would the fact of their drill make
them one iota more ready to encourage
riot or civil war.
On the other hand, grant the United
States that out of her boys leaving her
high schools and the uppermoSt grades
of her grammar schools, hundred
thousand every year with some knowl-
edge of tactics, and at once we should
have the best material for our state
militia or national guard; the best sub
Stitutes for great and expensive
standing army; strong defense
against threats of insurrection and an
archy.
May this convention said the
chancellor concluding, stir the South
Atlantic and south central states that
have to-day S6S public high schools for
boys, but not per cent. of them giving
military instruction, and the 744 private
high schools and not 6 per cent. giving
military instruction, to enter on this
course of work. 1t means more law and
order in your own states. 1t means a
larger share in the national RESPONSE
bility. 1t means in the final analysis
Peace on earth and good will unto
men,"
The convention then adjourned until
3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.