The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-02-10
SATURDAY EVENING. FEBRUARY 10, 1917.
MILITARY TRAINING IN SCHOOLS


Is reasonable to assume that the Carter bill providing
for military training in the high schools of the state
which was introduced in the West Virginia Senate yes
terday will not become law without fight, but its
chances much better than they would have been four
years ago. AT that time in all probability would have
been opposed by practically every educator of any prom
nence In the state
The theory upon which educational opinion in this con-
Try operated with regard to military training in the schools
that it had tendency foster miliarism and all its
attendant evils and that time if the minds of American
boys kept free from such ideas during the formative
period war would become so abhonent to the American
mind that there could be 1t might have been
good theory far as went AT all events it sounded
very plausible when expounded by such educational
authorities Dr. Nathan Schaefer, the very able head
of the department Of education of Pennsylvania and 9TH
ers of his class.
But there was one fatal flaw in it Wars are sometimes
forced upon nations. AS for instance the war that was
forced upon Belgium. And common sense teaches that
nation Of people who abhor war should be prepared
to defend itself from such contingency. Therefore the
demand for military training in the public Schools in the
colleges and In the great industries sweeping the
country We are not In much danger of becoming mill
tarstle but we are gong to be in position where
we will be able to give Just good account of our
selves should occasion require it. the New Zeaanders
the Australians or even the Swiss.
This change in public opinion with regard to military
ties to take another careful look at the whole question: and
they, too, finding lot of arguments in its favor Just
this week the Bureau of Education Of the Department of
the Interior of the United States sent out bulletin on the
subject ind among other things that were said by Dr. W.
S. Small, the author of the bulletin. were the following:
Military training offers a possibility of uni
tying and enrolling the confused and
disjointed activities in the field of physical
and moral discipline The physical and moral
values of both gymnastics and athletics are
we'll understood, but both lack comprehensive
and unifying motive. All systems of gymnas-
tics are individualistc. Their appeal is to the
desire of the individual for physical perfec-
ton. Competition is narrowly indvidualistc.
Systems of athletics mostly based upon
group competitions. and If properly managed
are very valuable, not only for physical deve-
s 9pment, but also for training In the very fun
damentals of social morality But the philos-
ophy of athletics is the philosophy of play
and is the philosophy Of INSTINCT philoso-
ply that is not comprehensive enough to serve
as sole basis of physical and moral educa-
ton. Military training rightly conceived in
cludes these motives and subordnates them
to the ideal of patriotism.
Thisis sound logic Universal military training makes
for Individual and national stamina The experience of
Europe proves this But it must be undertaken nationally