Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-04
MILITARY AND SCHOOLS.

Compulsory military training in the
public schools is becoming a live
question throughout the country. In
New York state the issue is being de-
bated warmly and bill has been in
troduced into the legislature provid-
ing for military training in the
schools. 1t is said that Governor
Whitman approves this bill. In the
state of Washington much general in
terest has been shown IN the topic
and the Spokesman-Review of Spo-
kane is advocating the adoption in the
United States of the Swiss system I'M
der which every abIe-bodied man is
trained for the defense of his country.
Under the Swiss system, however, ac-
tual military training is not a part of
the school system. School boys are
given thorough courses in physical
| training with view TO their future
military education. In Wyoming mil
itary training was introduced INTO the
high schools Of the state several years
| ago and the results are said to be sat
isfactory.
In New York, DR.. Finley, commits
sioner of education, has indicated
| that he would not oppose a plan to
Introduce in all the public schools of
that state practical system of ply
steal training and would also favor
! the establishment of summer military
training camps for boys in the high
! school courses. The bill which has
! just been submitted to the legislature
| in New York provides for standard
/ lied physical training of all bows over
| eight years Of age and for military
training for not less than three hours
weekly during secondary education.
The New York Times criticizes this
| bill on the ground that it applies to
| only part Of the people and saws we
can never have the system established
unless 1t applies to all alike. There
are already many private schools, it
pounts out, in which which instruction
IS given in military science and prac-
tice, but to be perfectly consistent a
law for compulsory training should
apply equally to all citizens, while the
! question Of how early in a mans life
it should begin would be a mere mat
ter of detail.
The Times feels that the assembly
Dill seems to provide for too much
and too little. It does not think Il
necessary to teach military tactics
and rife shooting to boys of 10 and
IA. That sort of instruction would
be just as useful If begun a few years
later. Continuing, the Times SAYS:
"On the other hand, the institution
OF practical and systematic physical
training for short periods daily in all
the schools, public as well as private.
could not fail to be beneficial, 1t NAV
be thought that this kind of training
IS unnecessary for boys who play foot
ball and hockey, but it is not so much
the development of muscle that is re-
qu1red as the discipline, obedience.
and cooperation that gymnastic exer-
cises rightly directed will develop. In
all the schools the system should be
the same, and in the state camps, il
they are established, the practice
should be identical with that prescrib,
ed by the war department for its own
| camps"
The whole question Of training In
the public schools looking toward ma
| tlonal preparedness is one of the most
| important that has come before the
people of the United States in MANY
day. And public sentiment is far
from crystallization at the present
| time. 1t is an issue that requires
thought and it cannot be settled Off
hand, pacifists and believers I'm ultra.
preparedness 20 the contrary notwith-
standing