Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-02
SENDING THE ARMY TO SCHOOL-By Frederic j. Haskin.

WASHINGTON March 29-The office of the
wv provost marshal general has announced that
W ten thousand young of the first class
having grammar school educations, will be sent TO
technical schools and universities by April first; and
that thereafter drafted with the proper educa-
tOnal qualifications will be sent to the schools IN
steady stream to be qualified for the technical and
mechanical work of which our war organization
stands in such great need
The Haskin letter first announced several months
that plan for relieving the shortage OF skilled
workers by senulng drafted men to school had been
laid before the secretary of by committee OF
educators, and prophesed that the plan would speed
lily be put into operation. This has now been done.
An executive committe of army officers has
been appointed take charge of the work. and they
assisted by advisory committee OF educators
which represent several of the large universities
the United States bureau of education, the federal
board for vocational education, and the Carnegie
foundation These two committees cooperate to or
ganze the technical schools and universities OF the
country into one great system Tor the training OF
soldiers. Before the summer is over, thousands or
young men will have been fitted to take their places
skilled workers in the army.
This plan means much to the individual as well
as to the country 1t means to thousands OF young
mer educational opportunities and practical eXper-
fence which might otherwise have been denied them
BY sending him to school and giving him work TO DO
for which he is mentally and physically fitted, the
nation makes to the recruit recompense Tor the
hazards and sacrifices which he must undergo
The federal board for vocational education has
outlined in detail Of the courses OF instruction
account of of these will doubtless be OF inter
est especially the recruits who are going to the
training schools.
One of the most interesting and important
courses is that which is designed TO fit men to be
motor truck drivers and chaufeurs. Drivers or
motor vehicles are needed in great numbers at the
front and they must be of the highest possible
reliability and resourcefulness. To obtain from clVI
life the number of trained men needed is impossible
Hence the government will choose men who seem
to be physically and mentally fitted for the WORK,
and win give them this course Of training. SO far
az possible they will choose men who have mad
some acquaintance with the gasoline engine so that
they may quickly learn the general principles OF Its
operatfon The course viii occupy period or four
weeks of FIVE and one-half days per week and eight
hours Der day. It is designed to teach man not
merely "how to a car, but how to Keep IT. run
ming II is not expected to make an expert repair
man Of the student in this brief period, but the edu
Gators say that a with proper aptitude can De
Taught In four weeks to operate car with the
least possible damage to It, quickly to diagnose en-
CINE trouble and to make simple roadside repairs
and adjustments Men who do not show APTITUDE
for the work VIII be quickly dropped. All OF tnese
war training courses win be vigorously seiec1ve IN
their effect and a man choosing the line or work
which he wishes study should carefully consider