Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-15
4 PAGE ToK WOMEN
Train Girls For
National Service
Plan Of "A. C. "A.

Mrs. Gertrude s. Martin Of Ithaca,
New York, executive secretary of the
Association Of Collegiate Alunnnae
sends to all branches. including the
Grand Forks branch, the following
bulletin, explaining her plan for
tional service:
The Association Of Collegiate
Alumnae, from the first days Of
entrance into the war, has realized
keenly the mora dangers that are
likely to surround our young men in
the training camps. and has interest
I'd itself in the work of creating an
Informed public opinion that would
demand, on the one hand. adequate
regulations from the war department.
and on the other. effective co-opera-
lion on the part of communities sur
rounding the camps. Resolutions d.
rected toward this end have been
passed by most of u one hundred
branches scattered from h Atlantic
to the Pacific and have been sent to
all officials, both national and state.
who have influence in determining
policies affecting this matter. More
over, our branches have secured the
adoption Of these resolutions by large
numbers of other organizations. both
mems and women's. who have also
m-emorialized the authorities. and an
4 6llSCIlNS punt opAlioA toS ~
ated that las resulted in some cases
In compelling the cooperation of re-
luctant municipal authorities.
This work will be continued and
training camp conditions will be
Eealously watched. Meantime, 1t has
seemed to the executive secretary OF
the association that the logical next
step is to provide. If possible. similar
protection for the young girls, many
40 u,bopo hooa,,co nf hefr vOnth. their
ignorance and the romantic glamour
surrounding the uniformed soldier,
will be placed in the gravest danger
rs soon as our young recruits begln
10 move through the country on their
way to and from training camps.
The problem is n requiring the
wisest and most delicate handling.
instruction must be given but 1t must
be given not as something separate
standing out stark and startling by
itself, but as a part of a whole sys-
tem% Of instruction. The only success
full instruction in sex hygiene Is that
which treats it simply and naturally
terious-just a part like any other
Of a whole system Of hygiene. So
here, my proposal is to make this In
struction a natural part of a whole
system OF instruction that shall be di-
rected toward helping the girl to find
herself in her relation to her country
and to realize her obligation toward
The proposal, as it lies in my mind,
while It might be undertaken on a
small scale, certainly could not be
completely carried out by n volun-
teer organization. If 1t is to be eff
fective on a large scale. it would re-
quire the authorization and support
Of the WoInen's Advisory Committee
- $ha CnrynCil for National T1afensa
and the organization and supervision
of the work itself through the state
and county committees. I believe that
1t would yield results not only in the
moral protection of u girls. but in
their training for patriotic service
that would be worth any effort deVot-
ed to 1t.
Soon after the declaration of war 1t
vas proposed that the government
should begin the creation of an in
dustrial and military reserve by en-
rolling all unemployed boys between
the ages of sixteen and twenty-one,
and requiring them to enter upon
definite training either in military
tactics or in some occupation directly
serviceab1e to the nation in war. So
far as I know, no steps were taken
toward the execution Of this proposal
by the national government. It oc-
CURED to me at the time that the
plan ought to include the girls also.
MY question now is, could not some
such plan for the girls be carried out
under the direction Of the Woman's,
Committees and be made the oppor-
tunity, not only for immediate serv-
Ice and training for future service,
but for instruction as we'll in the
causes In aim Of the war, in patri-
otto sentiment and in right under
standing Of the girls own responsible
ties and her relation to the war, to
the individual soldier, and to the
community.
The plan would be as follows:
(1). To attempt to gather in every
county as nearly as possible all girls
into clubs under volunteer leaders. 1
am certain that large numbers of the