Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-14
NORWICH MEN IN
 PLATTSBURG CAMP
L. E. Porteous and G. Ely Numbered Among the Members During July.

fNtilSflS NIlG lNi5FEiGEFS DGTiF4 JIINs
 A dozen Eastern Connecticut men including two from Norwich were among the members of the July camp at Plattsburg. The men were as fol- lows; L. F. Porteous and G. Ely of Norwich; H. W. Bond and N. J. Bond of Mantle; James NJ. Schley, Old Lyme; l.. Swain. POmfret Center T. D. Troland. New London; c. Wiggins. Promfret Center; A. F. A. King Pom fret; J. LentillhOn, POnfret: H. L. Nichols, Willimantic, and W. R. H. TaylOr Jr., P0Elfret Center.
 Speaking of life at the camp. Charles D: Hine secretary of the state board of education, who was a member dur ing July says:
 It is a new sensation for school master to observe and in @ measure DafuclDate in a summer school where there is no talk about reading, writing and arithmetic. Moreover there are no discussions or dissensiOn about the program or curriculum. The advan- tage of physical exercise for definite purposes is assumed; all the instruc- tors are experts. There are no peace 2gitatOrs or refOTmers. All the stu dents are business. professional or college men. Every detail of the or ganization is directed by one au- thOrity and from this authority
 
 Tn absence of teachers was notice able. Without doubt every teacher or supervisor who is interested in physi- cal training and it's results should be enrolled in this camp.
 While ] was at the camp there were about $500 men in four regiments The fourth and fifth were composed of students from colleges. universities and preparatory schools. The sixth and seventh comprised professional and business men. There were forty eight panies in the four regiman+s and two officers who were instructors Tor each company. These instructors are mainly graduates of West Point. The effect of the training depends upon the intelligence, willingness. and physical alertness of the student sol dIer and the ability of the instructors It is worthy of note that in giving in StructiOns the officers go to the point and intend to secure attention and in Stant execution in the manual of arms It is worthy of note that men un- accustomed to instant obedience and attention, lag, sometimes mistake and sometimes are incapable. There are however. the elements of cooperation and imitation.
 The instructors have had univer- Sity education at West Point as well as the two additional years of prac- tIce in the various arms of the serv- ice. If all teachers were educated similarly for six years and then po- sitions secured for them with req sonable pay the children of the state would be better educated
 It is nS- strange in this physical training that some failures especial ly in older men cause impatience on the part of the instructors. This inn patience is sometimes expressed in forCible and perhaps too energetic language. A penalty may be i'm posed tO which the nT6i109T-y- A IS not accustomed. To require bald headed man who inconsiderateIv smiles or snicllers at something he sees or hears, to step out of the line in front of the Company and "Ha! Hal" at command Is not a part of the business mans every day experience. It calls his attention however to the fact that motor control should be exercised not only over the .muSS1es of the hands and arms and feet but of the face. It has this signifcance,-A man at attention receiving a com- mand should not give 9 part of his at- 1 tentiOn to eXtraneous and ludicrous side issues wholly to the command Manifestly the notion is that ev- cry man who is to lead others must the art of war-by actually doing the things which he will require others to do. He must know every detail of the manual of arms and must not hesitate in giving the exercises re- quired of the men. Each instruc- tor can minipulate and shoot a rifle He knows every part not simply by studying but by actually practicing its details. It would take a man a long time to master the use of a rife by diagrams and drawings He must have the rifle in his hands and use it. The necessity for theory and practice of teaching by those who become leaders and teachers of others is emphasized. individuals are trained so that they respond as a unit instantly. The machine works to it's l desired eNS. It works automatically ! under experience and in emergencies.