Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-17

i'm accordance with our original I'M
/ derraking. This has permitted the
Young men OF the school 10 obtain
I all the advantages OF the full school
! year and at the same time they are
/ released from their studies early
I enough to be of very material assist
auce in very many lines OF employ
ment IN which our country at pres
emf is very much interested. We
wish full recognition OF this SPLEEN
did cooperation TO be publicly made,
Second: The members Of the
board and the general public as well
have grown TO be intensely inter-
ested in the physical mental and
moral training of the boys which is
resulting from the military work
prosecuted during the past two
years. We are all very proud ot The
splendid showing made in mat re-
srect. bur We still have some very
material disappointment tina, the
number of the boys in military uni
form during the school days OF the
week is not very much larger than
i, has been.
Public comment has been very
general on this subject. and many
of our citizens have wondered Why
more of the boys were not found In
the military ranks; and ii has been
suggested more than once that
whether or not a high school boy is
in military uniform and is a part OF
he military work carried on in the
school is an outward expression Of
the patriotism not only of the boy
himself, hut of the parents and the
others occupying the home from
which the boy is sent 10 school
Some objections to the military
training were urged at the outset
because Of the supposed additional
expense incurred in the purchase of
uniforms. Your thOughtfulness at
once eliminated any possible ground
for this objection by the suggestion
that the boys wear their military
uniform through the school week
and thereby make Of it their school
clothes. Since the uniform worn by
the boys costs less than any ordi-
nary school suit those who were in
the military work OF the school actu-
ally saved money on clothes during
the past year. While military train
ing is given TO the boys only three
days of the week their uniforms are
worn throughout the full week. This
course will be followed in the fu-
ture and the objection of expense
is thereby entirely removed When
this explanation has been made we
think ii Is not too far to go in an
nouneing hat many people now in.
teselF interested in the war in which
this country Is engaged will be in
clined to look with suspicion upon
the patriotism and willingness to CO.
. operate with the country in its great
work OF those whose boys are per.
mitted to attend the school without
military uniforms and without he
ing a part of our military program.
There have been marked evil
dences OF Improvement in the gen
eral physical condition of the boys
who have entered with the proper
spirit into the military work; that
benetit extends to the mental and
moral welfare Of the boys as well:
and in view Of the fact that the work
does not interfere in any way with
the general school work we feel AS
members of the board that the citi.
zens OF Ottawa generally are cor.
rect In expecting a unanimous en-.
dorsement by the boys themselves
and their parents which is shown
by the appearance Of the boys in
their military uniforms.
on course what we say in this
respect does not apply to any of
me boys Who by reason Of physical
uniItness, are unable to engage in
military drill Even for these boy3
1t would be very nice indeed for
lhem to appear in military uniforms
as It adds nothing to the expense OF
their school attendance and thew
can be relieved from the military
driIl by showing any physical ina.
bIlty to engage therein. We trust
therefore, that there will be very
few, If any Of our boys next year
who viii appear at school in clti.
5ens clothes.
IN this respect it is also timely.
we think. to call attention to the
necessity OF beginning early to Sc.
cure me uniforms necessary for The
coming year All boys who need
new uniforms for next year
Sould notify You as principal,
at an early date as possible,
and all others who intend TO
become a apart Of the mill.
'ary program for next year should
90 likewise in order that their meas.
ures may be taken and suits order.
ca ana secured on time for the open
Ing Of the school.
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