Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-08
DIR. CARRIER OPPOSES
MILITARY EDUCATION
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Superintendent Fears Plan
Would Hinder Legitimate
Work of Preparing Youth
for Citizenship
CONSCIENCE A FACTOR

Opposition to military training as part
| of public school education is expressed
| by DR.. John y. CARRIER superintendent of
schools of this city, in written opinion
sent TO Congressman John r. X. Scott
/ today.
Mr.. Scott introduced resolution in
| Congress several days ago providing for
the creation of a subcommittee Of the
Joint Committee on Military Affairs, to
study the question and determine the ad-
visibility of enforcing military training
in schools throughout the nation. Subse-
quently Mr. Scott wrote TO Doctor CARRIER,
asking for his opinion on the subject.
The opinion follows:
although | fully recognize the right
Of the State to prepare its young citizens
to defend II from injustice and dis
honored place in the family of nations, 1
do not believe that direct and compulsory
military training should be introduced
into our public schools. In my judgment
military training Is n very technical mat
ter and represents only small part of
what the schools should be doing in the
way of preparation for American citl-
zenship. our best work for training
young people for this citizenship Is ac-
complished If we make them as phys
ically fit as possible, not only for ready
training for defence, but also for contrib
uting in full measure to the economic,
civic and social welfare Of the State.
THE complete physical preparation of
young people for this broader idea of
American citizenship embodies all such
things as n thorough buiding-up process to
develop vigor and endurance in the body,
such as coordination OF nerves and mus
cles as makes the body respond almost
automatically to the word OF command,
abundant training in group activities and
group contests and certain forms of mass
activties--all of which should serve to
furnish an excellent foundation for mill
tary or any other form of special activ-
ity.
rifle practice summer camps for ex-
perience in out-ofdoor life, trench digging
and military evolutions. the use of uni
forms and such things, 1 believe should
be entirely voluntary matters thrown
open as widely and with as many induce
ments as the nation deems 1t wise to offer.
1T should be added that the public
schools are the peoples schools, represent
ing all types of interests and beliefs. and,
therefore, while we should give and re-
quire all that makes the pupils of these
schools physically fit, we need not and
should not enter upon the more technical
lines of military training that would be
an offense to many of the patrons of the
schools who have really conscientious
scruples in the matter.
THE pupils of the public schools are
practically all under IS years of age and
not sufficiently we'll developed for the hard
work involved in direct military training.
They would, therefore profit more by be.
Ing required to take proper courses in ply
steal exercises during their school life. H. |
however, summer camp work and rifle |
practice should be deemed advisable, l |
have no doubt that, even as voluntary |
matter, many would elect to take them"