The Ordway new era., 1913-03-28

often those who go away from home
to coach form habits and associations
which remain to hamper them through
out their career at the academy, which
sometimes destroy their chances of
success. At many Of these schools
are met what are known in academy
parlance as "bilgers." young men who
for one reason or another have failed
In their studies and have been drop
PED. but who can command sufficient
political influence to grain re-entry.
Ihat there may be young men of
worth among them is not denied, but
that In the generality Of cases there is
some grave defect of character is the
contention of the academy faculty, and
1t Is emphatically asserted that con-
tact with them rarely falls to injure
the boy who Is preparing for his initial
examination. For this reason Captain
Gibbons has made a serious and
successful effort to modify the, en-:
trance examinations in order to obvi-
ate. as far as possible. the necessity
for special coaching for the boy with
a good high school education and suf-
f1cient brains to carry him through
once he gains admission.
Second chronologically. but not in
importance. are the changes which
Captain Gibbons is effecting in the
curriculum Of the academy. The COM
plexity of modern naval warfare as
compared with that of a former gen.
Grafton. the intricacies Of the modern
battleship as compared with the sail
ing frfgate Of the early part of the last
century. must be apparent to the
veriest tyro. And with this develop
ment came increases in and complica.
tion of the academy curriculum. In
the effort to turn out midshipmen
proficient in all the phases of duty
they would be called upon to perform
there has been an ever increasing dan.
ger that. like the proverbial jack OF
all trades. they would be master of
none. The Importance of change of
system was obvious to those who gave
the subject sufficient serious consider.
alton. The first step toward correcting
the evil was necessarily in the direc-
ton Of specialization. There were no
superfuous subjects. therefore provi.
sion must be made for special training
In the subjects eliminated after eradu-
alton. Some progress along that line
had already been made. but now a post
graduate school has been established
at Annapolis and systematic and
varied course provided. Captain Glib
bons has been made head of the more
advanced school. as he is Of the Naval
academy.
The entrance examination has been
somewhat simplifled by the elimina.
tion of worlds history and in some
minor details. The first years work
has been made more elementary and
Ia better designed to afford asubstan-
tial basis for subsequent education.
The practice of sending the first and
second classes to sea with the feet in
stead of on school ships during the
summer months, in order that they
may have an opportunity to apply their
knowledge and to supplement theo-
retical experience. has been adopted,
and the more advanced features, such
as tactics, law and constructive and
designing technical work, have been
either eliminated or abridged. with a
view to their further pursuit after
graduation.
The postgraduate course will, in the
main, be preceded by three years of
sea service and qualification for the
grade Of Junior lieutenant. For the
present the course will include ord
nance and gunnery. marine engineer