Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-06
COMPULSORY EXERCISE AND
TRAINING SOON TO BE
PART OF EDUCATION.
COMMITTEE OF BOARD
is AUTHORIZED TO ACT
Proposal Of Fred M. Wilbur That Com.
pulsory Military Drill, Without Arms,
and Exercise For High School Boys
Adopted by Board - WiIbur's Com
rttee to Put Plan in Force.

| Hep, Hep: Hep! Hep! Such
! stacca,o calls. marking the time of
/ footballs and commands of military
trainings ere soon TO be common
/ sounds on the high school grounds. A
(, course Of military training and eNer-
-, else is 20 become a compulsory part
| of the high school curriculum. At the
monthly meeting of the board. held
! Tuesday night. such a plan. proposed
! by Fred NJ Wilbur, was accepted by
I the board.
The committee on text books and
course of study, of which Wilbur is
chairman, was given authority to work
out the details. develop the plan, and
put it into effect.
Will Begin at Once.
This will be done al once, but it will
require probably several weeks, and
perhaps few months, before the plan
Will be developed TO a point where all
the boys of the high school can partici-
pate. Until such time the effort will
be devoted to the selecting and train
ing OF commissioned and non commits
stoned officers. When these officers
/ have become so familiar with the tao
tics of drill and methods of evercise'
as to instruct others, then all the boys
of the nigh school will be mustered
into squads and companies and COM
PEELED TO participate.
Means Exercise For All.
This clan has been urged publicly
and otherwise by Judge B. F. Cum
mings and Others. The thought behind
t. ,hraa-<ntd
in the order of Importance in which
they are named: Physical training for
every boy in the school, training under
discipline, military units in preparation
in case the country's need should ever
demand them.
Ii is pointed out by the advocates
Of the plan that Of .oout $50 boys in
the high school. perhaps fifty get much
physical training in football squad.
baseball. track. and basketball teams.
The other 200 look on and get none.
Exercise ars Drill.
By the plan proposed every boy
would have to participate except those
who were training for track, football,
or other athletic teams. The program
calls for rot only military drill in
squads platoon and companies, but
later perhaps by battalions. Even more
important il includes series Of So
called setting up exercises that are
the foundation for the development of
body and are SO regarded in all mill
tary organizations and schools.
II is these setting up exercises that
give the straight carriage. broad
shoulders. ard military bearing to any
young man who has had year or two
/ of il at regular intervals.
J Enouan Men For Battalion.
: There are enough boys in the high
school TO form four good sized COM
panies. or battalion. II is not the
purpose 10 uniform or arm them. and
there will De no equipment of any kind
for either the school district or ta-
pupil 70 buy. Such experienced help
as is needed 10 get the movement
launched will be given free by Judge
s. r Cummings. DR.. George NJ. Jonn-
son. Frank NJ. Hsradon. Fred NJ. Will
bur. ana Others who have had military
training.
Th2y win take on themselves the
task Of instructing the officers and
putting the organization on its feet so
that it can continue without outside
( help.
( Will Be Self Commanded.
Very ori@tiy the plan Is 10 Hidhe INC
! companies ard battalion self COM
a3andirg. That is all the officers Will
he boy students of the senior class. 1t
+ is the intention 70 make commission
one of the prizes to be worked for up
10 the senior class. as it is in colleges
that maintain military organizations
The first officers Will necessarily have
+ 10 he chosen, but after the first year
+ a commission will be reward of merit.
/ The first year will be the hard year.
as officers and men alike will be new to
] the training. But after the first year
the work will be much stmplified be-
cause all Of the officers will be from
the ranks and will have had experience
/ and most of the men likewise will have
/ hid eYnerience