The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-23
keokuk, Iowa March 2s' 1909
MILITARY TRAINING IN THE HIGH
SCHOOLS.


A movement recently inaugurated
for military training in the high
schools of the country is meeting with
deserved encouragement and taking
on nationwide interest and import
a. ce. The idea is not, perhaps, SO
much to make soldiers or train marks
men or teach military tactics, though
these in themselves would justify
adoption of the suggestion, as to al
ford the boys in the high schools the
benefits of discipline and physical
training and practical knowledge OF
the principles of sanitation. If incl
dental to this there is secured a
trained citizen soldier capable OF
effective military service when need
ed the gain 10 the country as the re-
suit of such instruction will be all the
greater.
No need is greater or more urgent
" felt in American life today than
that of discipline. The whole atmos-
phere of life in this country al the
present time is at war with the idea
of discipline There is general con-
tempt for authority in the home and
family, as shown by the insubordina-
ton of the young, and in the commun-
ity generally as shown by wilful and
contemptuous disregard of law. There
is, as one writer has said, too gem
eral confounding of liberty with
license. There is too general a dis
regard by the individual of the rights
of his neighbors and of his commun-
ity. To subordinate ones own notions
of how a public matter should be
managed to the opinion of another OF
of others, even if such subordination
is necessary for the attainment of
common end. is deemed unworthy
This state of affairs needs to be cor
rected, and there is no better means
for its correction than military train
ing. Such training establishes the
habit of prompt and unhesitatins
obedience to the orders of one IL
authority, and thus makes for law ant
order and is of inestimable value t
the individual and the nation. 1t ais
substitutes co-ordinated activity a
part of an organized and well-directe
mass for futile personal independence
and thus makes possible the accom-
plishment of valuable results otheI
wise unattainable.
Not less valuable would be the d.
velopment of the boys physiqu
Regular and systematic exercise o.
tanned by the calisthenic and settint
UP exercises and the marching
would bear fruit in a well set UP fl
ure, broadened shoulders, full ches
and good general muscular develo
ment In a thoughtful article on II
subject in the st. Paul Pioneer-Pre
Lieutenant Charles Burnett of Il
Fourth Cavalry well says:
The average high school boy usu;
ly goes to extremes in his exercise
either very little or very much, al
that of a violent character Bo
are injurious to his general healt
and of careful, systematic exerci
he knows nothing. The day OF I
sturdy. bracing, outdoor life is thi
of the past, especially in our gre
centers of population-the citi'
Thin. narrow chests and droopl
S.AOu
and heavy, shutting walk are
coming more and more prevale
among our young men, and the con
ton is growing worse with each g
Grafton. Even today the recruiting
fcer rejects three out of every f
VINO apply for enlistment on accot
of physical defects. A soldierly c
rage. made up as it is, of an err
Ag,lre square shoulders and a &C
muscular development has beco
something of a proverb, even in I
most unmilitary country OF ours.
1t is confidently believed that s
tenn of military training in the NJ
schools would 90 far toward ameli
ating this unfortunate condition q
result not only in sounder bodi
but sounder and brighter minds.
nally, the educational value OF the /
posed system of instruction would
he the least of its benefits.
knowledge thus gained of milit
sanitation would open the way to
understanding of the principles
civic and domestic sanitation I
qualify its possessors to preserve tt
own health and render efficient ale
preventing the spread of disease.
Statistics show that there are
so4 high schools in the United Sta
with about 317120 boys between
ages of fourteen and nineteen in
tendance. The interests of this Ia
army of boys are well worth con
ering. saying nothing OF their "
10 the ion when properly tran
There is no question that the COZ
OF instruction proposed would hell