Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-11-14

that in any way are detrimental to
military training, but it has been
found that many lines of education,
instead of being subversive Of military
efficiency, are actually potent factors
in increasing it. This is especially true
in en~campments where non-English-
speaking foreign increments are
found. In practically every such place
ignorance Of English has been a source
of much worry to the military authori-
ties in command.
A regiment at Camp Upton is quite
typical. Among its quota (3,SO0) were
about $50 foreign-born citizens who
could not understand a single order
or command given in English. Confu-
sion and disobedience were the sure
results. Here, as in other places where
foreigners are in camp. the education
al machinery of the Y. M. c. A. was
used. These men were singled out by
their commanding officers and are de-
tailed daily to attend English classes
under competent instructors. Their in
tensive military training is held In par
tial abeyanceopending a few weeks Of
intensive training in English.
The foreigners are graded in three
groups, representing their respective
stages of advancement, and an assign
ed instructor teaches each group.
EiOll o.OU 10 1V.0V edCH morning
English classes are held, Using the
Roberts method, the men learn by easy
sentences the essential military terms.
BY pantomime and acting the i~nstruc-
tor makes plain the meaning of each.
simple sentence, ~
Opportunity for Higher Learning.
The National Army is drawn from
all classes and all professions. It's in
dividuals differ as widely in intellec-
tual endowment as they do in religion,
nationality or physique. 1t takes all
sorts Of people to make a National
Army, just as it does to make the
world. And there must be all sorts of
diversions and activities for them,
which means that the serious-minded
will be disconnected without educa-
tional facilities. I'm
The list of subjects in which men
at one place or another in the Nation-
al Army are pursuing studies reads
like the index page of a preparatory
school or university prospectus. The
grades range from junior high school
courses to post graduate work. All
sorts of history, arithmetic, geometry,
elementary and higher algebra, trigo-
nometry, physics. chemistry, philoso-
ply. geography, biology. hygiene, civ
les, economics, political history, vari-
GUS modern languages in addition to
French and English, sociology, and so
on down the long list of diversified and
specialized branches of modern knowl-
edge, subject after subject is added to
the list of "elective,' courses.
In this NATIONAL Army are many
men Of high intellectual attachments,
scholars and scientists, m~athemati-
clans and gifted young writer's. One Of
the tasks that the educational com.
mittee of the Y. M. c. A. has set itself
to is getting in touch with these men
and inducing them to head classes and
to instruct their less gifted fellows in
the ranks. This work has q definite re-
lation to military efficiency. It must
be remembered that some men seek
their diversion in sports. others in
movies" Or music OF entertainments
in the camps, while the ~so-called
"high-brows'' find their diversion and
relief from military routine in intel
~lectual pursuits. For such men, com
p~rehensive educational program insti-
tuted by the = M. G.. A. is a. potent