Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-02-01
OF STUDY CRITICIZED
TOO MUCH TIME IS SPENT ON
MATHEMATICS.
More Time To BE Devoted 70 the
Study Of French, German ard
Spanish and to Horsemsnship.

4 ANS4NCAit fRCoSGfEtA has abt 1hh S'tAt
thing little short OF dismay In army
and West Point circles. IN letter
addressed to the secretary Of war be
attacks, with characteristic yigor and
ddrectness. the course Of study al the
military academy as impractical and,
In a sense, inadequate for the educa-
ton OF army officers. He directs that
the curriculum OF the academy be
changed to conform to what NAV be
regarded as the needs OF army Of
ficers.
The presidents special aversion 70
the course of study is the time devo-
ted to mathematics He expresses, in
his letter, the belief that altogether
to much weight is given in the course
at the military academy TO mathema-
tics. He realizes that, for officers
OF the corps of engineers and for or
dinance officers thorough training
in mathematics may be essential,
but he insists that, for the army off,
Ger. as a .ule, the course in that study
pursued at the academy is altogether
too technical and too extended. He
makes 1t clear that the training re-
ceived by cadet at West Point ought
particularly to fit him for work in
the fed with troops. He does not
decry mathematics as a whole, but Isl
of opinion that the course as now pro-
vided in that branch is prolonged I'M
naturally and unnecessarily. He di-
reefs that more time be revoted to a
study of the modern languages and
insists that the cadets knowledge of
French, German and Spanish shall be,
not of the book order. alone. but OF
a kind that will enable him to con-
verse in those languages He directs
also. that the cadets be trained thor
onghly in horsemanship so that they
may be able not only to. ride any
horse they may be called on to mount,
but that they shall know how to care
for horses. He wants the graduates
of the academy to be trained thor
oughly as fighting men, who Will be
of. the utmost advantage to the coun-
try If, in any circumstances, they
should be called into actual warfare.
The Presidents letter created a
furore in army circles. Superintend-
ent Scott, of the West Point academy
was called to Washington to consider
the matter with officials of the war de-
Dartment. Inasmuch as the letter of
the President is an order Colonel
Scott will not discuss it for publica-
ton; but it is plain that he is en-
barrassed Army officers regard the
order as a very serious innovation
that is likely to impair the useful
ness of the academy, They point to
the fact that mathematics is pursued
not merely for the practical knowled-
sc to be obtained from the study, but
for the training mentally the cadet
receives in following the cour pre-
scented in the curriculum. They in
sist, too that thorough knowledge
of mathematics is necessary to an
army officers training from the view
point Of practically and that to cur
tail the course OF study in mathema-
tics at West Point would be great
mistake
OF course no immediate change will
take place. It will require time to
re-arrange the course of study to con-
form to the Presidents order Mean
time, the matter is certain to be
thrashed out in all its details. 1t is
believed that, in a general way the
President is right in insisting that
the course shall be made as thorough
~ practicable as possible; but 1t like
wise is held by most army officers
who are familiar with the subject that
he has carried his opposition to the
course in mathematics a bit too far
II is probable that board will be APP
pointed in the near future to take up
the whole subject and make recon-
mendations respecting it and that the
curriculum will be changed in accord
ance with the ideas OF the Pres dent
and the board after It has Deen thor
oughly considered