The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-05-24
Y. N. C. A. PLANS
TO TEACH U. S.
MEN IN FRANCE
Hold Glasses and Lectures on
Language and War Causes.

PARIS--Organization Of educational
classes and lectures for the members
Of the American cxpedltonary forces
has been undertaken by the Army
Young Mems Christian association
with the approval and Endorsement OF
General pershnR
Dr. AnSon Phelps Stokes, secretary
OF Yale university who IS now in Paris.
has obtained a few months leave ot
absence IN order to perfect the pre-
lmInay organization Dr. Stokes has
been studying the question Of educa-
tonal opportunities in the army for
two months.
The plan of work during the war is
based ON the conviction that the Ameri-
can soldier will be most efficient as A
fighting man II he understands thor
oughy the country in which he -
living the cause iYr which he is fight.
lng the tremendous issues al stake
between au'ocracy and democracy and
The institutions and ideals Of France.
England and other allied nation, As
cou'rastcd with those dominant today
100 Germany
vital to Know French
Doctor Stokes believes /. 10 be a mat
ter Of vital importance that our troops
should be able 10 understand and make
themselves understood by the French
people in whose village, they are
b'lleted and the French soldiers with
whom they are fighting This is cal-
cula'ed to preyen, friction, increase
efficiency and tend to create that unit
ed western front deemed essential TO
the successful prosecution of the war
Consequently emphasis will be placed
on the teaching Of French.
The assistance Of teachers in French
schools and lycee' in large towns near
the camps is counted upon for giving
lessons by the direct method IN which
no English is used
Petit Dh,ailliS, director Of the office
National des Universities et Ecolcs
Francaises,' represents group of
French educators who have generously
given much time to working out this
plan
Lectures In Camps
Glasses in elementary English to
soldiers in foreign parentage. in mathe-
mates Tor men preparing for promo
ton examinations, and lectures and
classes on other subjects will also be
introduced in camps as the demand
arises and can he met Attendance will
be voluntary and classes will generally
be held in the Young Mems Christian
association huts in the evening, 50 as
not to interfere with regular military
duties
Lectures will be free while the queS-
ton OF the payment OF small fee for
classes will depend largely on whether
or not professional teachers not con-
nected with the army or the Young
Mems Christian association have 20 be
employed American extension and cor
reSpondence courses will also be util-
lied
Professor DAILY head Of the depart
ment Of geology al Harvard university
and Professor ErskinS OF the depart-
mert OF English at Columbia university
both now in France as Young Mems
Christian association secrctare' will he
among the first to assume the new
teaching duties
Can Be Expanded Later
The organization for immediate war
service will be arranged so that it can
be expanded later to meet the larger
demands Of rehabilitation. In this
connection a plan OF operation is being
worked out with French and British
educational authorities which is eS-
pected 10 do much to meet this need
The Young Mems Christian assooia-
ton has been officially recognized as
an agency to be made use Of for edu-
cationa as well as recreational faclli-
ties for the army. The organization has
at its disposal 800 huts in American
camps in France, besides a number OF
rented buildings and halls scattered
Throughout, towns where troops are
| uartered