The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-01-28
TRAINED OR UNFRAMED MEN
Pres. Chas. n. Spooner Of Norwich
University, Writes on Military
Training in Our Colleges.


Training in Our Colleges.
/, lacks but half decade OF an ever
century since Captain Partridge In
lecture which has become classic
enuneiated the principles that the in
struction OF college men should include
courses in military training, both
theoretical and practical" /" that no such
man. physically sound, might count
the preparation Of his life work com
plete unless he had prepared himself
10 defend what he and others had pro-
dueed for the welfare Of family, state
and nation,
Forty years later, while our nation,
was in the throes Of the Civil War,
Senator Morrill,, q neighbor OF Captain
Partridge, having lived all his life
near TO the institution founded by the
Captain, wrote into the act establish
inp the agricultural colleges clause
requiring such institution to give to
all their male students, military in
structions, both theoretical and praetl-
cal" This they have done with de-
gree Of efficiency varying from time
TO time and from college to college,
The fact is, that the essentials OF
military training involve so much
more than the technicalities of drill,
knowledge Of the facts of history and
of law. that few Of the colleges have
been willing or able TO undertake the
work with any degree Of thorough
ness. As rule they have tried to
hold a portion Of their men to restrlc-
tions ond observances incident TO mill
tary discipline while others have been
free from it. For the best results in
school or college in this, as in other
matters not academic, all must con-
form to the same general require
ments. This is true in largest meas
ure when the requirements consist OF
few hours drill per week as has
been the rule. Exceptional men in
charge of military work under such a
condition have succeeded in getting
most excellent results, but all to fire.
auently they have felt that they faced
an impossible situation and the result
has been that the military was shun-
ned and disliked by the students and
every possible excuse to obtain free
dom therefrom. suspect that in most
such cases, back of the student body,
among the faculty, have been men
blind to the value of the training so
far as it Immediately affects the
Young man, and ignorant or indiffer-
ent to its ultimate worth to the state
and the nation. Critical or sighting
words on the subject, uttered thought
lessly or wilfully in the presence OF
students, have created or fostered un-
happy conditions.
In reality, valuable as drill and in
struetion may be made where stu
dent body is not under continual con-
troll of the military type, the best es-
sentials of real military training can
not be so impaired. These essentials
abide rather in the discipline which
comes only by living with men under
control; not merely being controlled
but being part Of the controlling pow
err, little by little rising to the re-
sponsibility which authority gives and
coming to use and not abuse that au-
thority The beginning Of success in
dealing with large bodies of men, IN
barracks, in camp, or field, lies in the
performance Of the simple duties 81
the private. 1t grows bit by bit
through the performance of the dutl-
es Of corporal and Of sergeant and OF
lieutenant, etc. There is mistaken
idea that the exercise Of authority
with its accompanying responsibility
means "bossing" and bringing punish
mcnt unon offenders. 1t is misfor-
tune If such things become necessary
In reality the responsibility and the
authority point rather to the preven-
ton of offense, the anticipation of the
occasion and opportunity for offense
and to the diversion Of the possible
offender therefrom.
This training as | view IL aims not
TO develop amongst its recipients men
for the rank and file Of fighting
force. but rather the development of a
body of men competent to train such
force, and ! am assured in my own
mind that the object sought can be
thus obtained and that the best Of all
these means, school, college and mill
tary college, so classified by the gov
ernment, Is this last which requires
college men from the day they enter
to the day they leave, to live life
essentially military.
For technical skill and for much
else our great government schools are
surprisingly fine for fitting men for
the regular service, and, with the rip