Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-07

of study and courses of instruction en-
| tirely different from those in use at West
! Point, and therefore the entrance ex-
aminations are not fair test of their
| mental ability or qualifications for mill
| tary service.
/ There are schools where candidates are
| coached for the examinations by retired
| officers and others who know the re-
| the academy almost without exception go
| through promptly and easily. and have
| a great advantage over their classmates
| for the first year because they are ia
| miliar with the methods of instruction
| and rules Of discipline. But boy who
| comes from the far west. who has never
| had such coaching, and who has been
designated only few weeks before the
examinations are held, has had no OPP
portunity to prepare himself. and even
| remains at a disadvantage for a year or
more.
Gen. Schofeld's Plan.
The best solution of the problem is be-
lieved to be that suggested by the late
Gen. Schofield when he was superintend-
emit OF the academy, twenty-five or thirty
years ago.
He recommended the establishment
Of a preparatory school in connection
with the academy. where all candidates
have year of preliminary training be-
fore they go up for their entrance exam
nations. The corps Of instructors should
consist of army officers. the methods OF
instruction and the discipline should be
the same as those at the academy, only
not so severe, and the effect will be
practically to extend the course from
four to five years. with the exception that
the merit and demerit marks Of the first
year will not be counted against a cadet
", f~tn h 10 frtI nj IN he arI
Having the advantage of such prepa-
ration, before the end Of the preliminary
year a boy will be able to decide intelli-
gently whether he wants to continue his
course and follow the career of soldier.
II his decision is in the affirmative he
will understand what is expected of him
and will have fair chance of demon
| strating his qualifications at the entrance
examination. On the other hand. if a
boy decides during the preparatory year
that he is not fitted for the army he will
| be able to prepare himself for some other
profession without losing the best years
of his life.
Such a school would give all boys the
same chance, the same preparation and
subject them to the same discipline. Many
fine soldiers are lost to the army because
cadets who come from luxurious MONIES
and indulgent parents are not able 10
adjust themselves at once to the severe
and exact requirements of the academy
Everything there is either right or wrong.
either black or white. There are no in
ter,nediate shades and no allowances are
made for temperament or disposition, as
is customary in the family. A years
preparation In the same atmosphere anc
| under the same conditions, and particu-
| larry in the immediate neighbOrhood.
would be of inestimable benefit to every
cadet.
Such a preparatory school should be
located in the immediate vicinity of the
academy, and an admirable site is wait
ing for 1t upon Constitution Island. which
was purchased last year by Mrs. Russell
Sage and presented to the government
This island comprises about 23O acres Of
high land and about fifty acres of low
lying meadow land situated across a
branch Of the Hudson river. about 300
yards from the academy grounds. 1t has
excellent rail and water communications
is easily accessible from the ton
and it's historical associations should have
induced Congress to purchase it long ago
as a memorial to men and deeds which
should not be forgotten by our people,
Kosciusko built Notifications called Fort