The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-03-07

law, field fortificatiOn, road
and railways and pontoon bridges are |
q few Of the most important studies
for this term. ).
A special feature of this term is that
each scholar is compelled to write all
essay on some study he had during his
second term, the subject being selected |
by the department. commands These
essays, many of which are excellent,
are forwarded to the war department
at Washington for examination, and If
considered of especial interest to the
service, are published In general orders,
the writer Receiving certificate Of
honor for his reward. For the first
term the teachers are lieutenants, and
for the second and third terms. COM
missioned officers of more than ten
years. service. t.
During the third term there are also
special instructors who are detailed by
the war department., for lectures and
practical exercises. The post surgeon
is the Instructor in military hygiene.
lie also gives instruction iii first aid to
the injured and hss litter drills twice
week. ~ w
The nonccmmissioned officers and
the privates who are selected to attend
this school, cannot be excused from
attendance, unless they are detailed
for guard duty or are sick. The course
Of instruction requires thirty-three
months Of hard study by those who
are fortunate enough to receive the
privilege to attend, apd it is divided
into three terms of eleven months
each.
Taking into consideration the fact
that the teachers are all graduates of
the military academy you can readily
see that the nowledge gained by the
enlisted men who attend these classes
must prove of much value to them in
after years If put to the right use.
Furthermore, as there is one teacher to
every fifteen pupils you can see that
the instruction is thorough in every
respect; in fact, almost equal to that
received at many of the high schools.
Each term begins on the first OF
November each year and examinations
are held semi-annualiy. Ii successful
when examined the scholar receives a
certificate Of proficiency from head.
quarters which excuses him from
recitations and examinations in the
subjects covered. by it. II, on the other
hand, ne should be found deficient In
any study, he may be re-examined; il
still deficient he would be reported te
the department, commander with .
Il view to the withdrawal of thu author
ity that permits him to attend the
school. This is considered misfor
tune as there are so few men permitted
to attend (the exact number being fif
teen from each company including th'
noncommissioned officers) that he il
, almost certain to noL have anothergop
portuaity to take the course, especial!
I as there are many names on the wait
| ing list Of each company.
Each scholar studies his lessons il
> his squad room or wherever he wishe
| to, but the recitations are held in som
/, building set apart for the purpose
: Altho recitationsstake place daily, ther
: is no uniformity OF procedure in re
Q gard to the time of each session
: Sometimes session lasts twenty o
t twenty-five minutes, then again
: might last three or four hours; bu
4 when averaged at the end of the teri
q they would generally cover two and
d half hours each.
b The war department has been year
j. building this system Of education i
+ use in the army, and it requires. but
! glance at the enlisted strength or tn
= commissioned force, to see that II
q fruit is always in evidence.
2 Many of you may wish to kno
= whether this military education, whic
r is mostly technical, benefits the enliste
l. man while heis in the service.
is does; the men who are candidates *
le commission nFhave taken the course {
If have. all the nOncommissioned sta
IS officers, and am certain that altbo Il
p rate Of compensation is small, Q,
d army has no superior when it comes
Ii neatness, department and the gener
1. essentials Of military.conduct
-. - -