New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-12
Military Camps
For Public School
Boys Proposed
All-Year Training in Bar
racks Near City
Planned

The training camps for boys Of
twelve and over conducted this year at
Speedway Park, Sheepshead Bay, and
last year at Fort Hamilton, by the Ma
tional School Camp Association, have
been so successful that the association
plans the establishment Of similar sum-
mer military training camps as a part
Of the school system Of the United
States.
Instead of the usual two or three
months vacation in the schools, when
the boys are turned loose in the streets,
the officers Of the association, among
them Herman A. Metz, Senator William
NJ. Calder, Edwin ~ Appleton and Fred
erick L. Long, who originated the move
ment, believe that the schools should
simply be transferred 10 barracks out
side and near the city. The life Of a
soldier which the boys would lead in
such an institution would be O splendid
start toward later training IL universal
service is to be adopted permanently IN
this country.
The two camps conducted by the as
ISOLATION are the largest Of their kind
ever held in the United States, nearly
two thousand boys having attended
them for periods of from two weeks TO
two months or more. The camp for
high school boys at Fort Terry last year
had more enrolments for a single
period, but was forced TO suspend after
the first month. The camp conducted
by the state at Peekskill this year was
also larger, but lasted only one month,
and was only for boys selected from
high schools.
Open to Boys Twelve or Over
The National School Camp at Speed
way Park is open TO any boy in the
United States of twelve or over, Boys
must stay at least two weeks, but may
remain as long as they wish Disci-
pline is that of the regular army, and
each lad has the status Of an enlisted
man, there being no commissioned oti-
GERS. instruction is given by drill mas
ters who are graduates of the army.
The boys rise at o'clock, take their
physical exercises, breakfast, clean up
the camp, drill all morning and devote
the afternoon TO athletic sports. Each
alternate afternoon is given over 10 a
ten-mile hike, and a splendid beach
gives opportunity for water sports
three times a week Motion pictures
and impromptu concerts afford enter
tainment three nights each week.
The cost of the camp is 30 cents a
day, with an enrolment fee Of 80 cents.
The only other expense is the uniform,
which is not over s6. Many boys who
are working in the city have taken ad-
vantage of the camp, sleeping, drilling
and exercising at the Speedway and
committing TO and from work each day.
The wholesome, healthful life led by
the boys in the camps has such deep
effect on them that District Attorney
Harry Z. Lewis, of Brooklyn, who re.
Gently inspected the camp, said: "lf
this system is made general, in ten
years | will be out Of job. More than
half the work of the District Attorneys
Office comes from habits formed in boy
hood"
Woods Favors System
Others strongly in favor Of the school
camps system are Major General Leon
ard Wood, Police Commissioner Arthur
Woods and Mayor Mitchell, who is q
member of the advisory council Of the
association.
The camp at Speedway Park can take
about three hundred more boys this
year. Although it is proposed to close
the camp September /, it is probable
that, as was the case last year at Fort
Hamilton, il will be kept open until
October 1 to accommodate the large
number Of working boys who wish to
remain during September