South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-06
CULVER LEADER
TO EXPLAIN PLAN
Col. GigniIIiatt to Discuss
Training For Schools Stu
dents at Y. M. Tonight.

plan Of military training. proposed
for the South Bend high school, will
be explained by Col. Gignilliatt. COM
mandant Of Culver Military academy
at a public meeting in the Y. NJ. G..
a at 1850 this evening. Stereopticon
views will illustrate the coloners
talk Lieut. Conrad and other Of
ficers from Culver will also be
present
The plan was brought before the
school board by a committee from
the Chamber of Commerce Monday
evening. The board felt the need of
an expression of public opinion re-
specting the plan and therefore
urges all parents to attend the meet
ing this evening.
Advocates of the plan pointed out
that the militaristic side is not en-
phasized but that the main object is
TO develop boys physically and moral
ly and TO instill a wholesome re-
spect for authority. The plan, they
declare can be operated in cOnjunc-
ton with the present physical de-
partment of the high school.
Explains System.
Lieut. Conrad Of Culver Military
academy was the principal spokes-
man AT the school board meeting
and explained the working of the
system i'm detail. He said that the
system had been tried in a score of
cities, both large and small, through
out the country and that it had in
variably proven both beneficial
for the students and popular
with them. He said that the
system was more than mill
tary training system. being a
system Of disciplinary and physical
training as well. He emphasized the
point that the merits of the system
were proven by the fact that the war
department has endorsed il, had
had commissioned officers to organ
lie it in the high schools of the
country, and had appropriated mon
ey to aid it's organization in the high
schools. He explained that the sys-
tenn is voluntary, and that ii subjects
in no way the boys taking it to a call
for military service.
Says Expense is Small
The system could be organized
here with little expense. according
10 Lieut.. Conrad. The government
pledges itself to furnish an instruc-
tor for the system if it has one avail
able. The government also furnish
es the arms, the ammunition for tar
get practice. and much o. the rest
of the equipment. South Bend, il
a 1,r arff
larly fortunate, if it was decided TO
establish the system here because Of
the fact that army officers station
ed at Culver could make this city
the headquarters for this section Of
the country.
To secure the aid of the govern
ment il would be necessary that a
company of 100 students be Organiz-
ed and uniformed in the South Bend
high school. Taking the course would
be left 10 the opinion of the local
students. Those who take the course
would, however, be obliged 10 drill
three hours each week.
Willing To Investigate.
II was the opinion of the two
members Of the school board pres
ent. William Glenn and G. p. Drum
mond that the board would have
no authority TO appropriate any
money for the organization OF the
system in the local school. They ex-
pressed themselves as willing. how
ever. to further investigate the
matter and if some means could be
proposed for paying the expenses of
organizing the system here and If
il was found that the people Of the
city were in favor of it's organiza-
ton. they would be glad TO intro
duce it into the high school.
1t was pointed out by the school
board that since the matter was
first brought up in South Bend they
had received many communications
from local people urging them not
To introduce the system into the To-
cal schools The board was not
certain whether these requests arose
out of a misunderstanding OF the
purpose and nature of the system or
not. II was brought out at the meet
ing that many educators and phys
iCal culture instructors have eX
pressed themselves as opposed TO
military training in the schools. This
opposition. he petitioning commit
tee urged. was against the old sys-
tenn Of military training, not against
the Wyoming system, which has.
they said, practically eliminated all
the Objectionable features which
military training has for high
schools.
students Turn IL Down.
At the mass meeting Of high
school students this afternoon only
about 1T5 Of the $50 students pres
ent expressed themselves as favor
ing the adoption of the system here,
according TO Principal J. s Nc
Cowan. The students were urged 10
consult their parents upon the mat
ter and a meeting will probably be
called today for the purpose OF
again having them express their
opinions on the matter.
The members OF the committee
appearing before the school board
Monday night TO urge its investiga-
ton Of the advisability OF introduce
ing the system into the local high
school were c. G. Hanch Victor
Jones. ]. F. Neff and Judge L. NJ.
Hamm erschmidt.