Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-09-25
TRAINING in SCHOOLS

mlIhIAhI Ih4lNtNuIN COhOOL6
Evidently strong effort is to be
made to greatly extend military
training in our various colleges and
universities, making it a part of
the required course for graduation.
Some time since it was reported
that Secretar, Baker asked con-
gress to provide funds for sending
some of the soldiers in the regular
army to the various schools. We
do not have the full details, but as
we got it at the time, his idea Is to
detail squads of soldiers to the va
rious universities, technical schools
and high schools for several months
Of the year, keeping them under
military discipline but having them
take the regular course of instruc-
ton.
Very shortl,, after we entered the
war, it was apparent that such mill
tarv training as we had given was
not of very great value under mod
ern war conditions. Even the men
who had been educated at West
Point and had been in the regular
army for years, had to forget many
things they had learned, and had to
learn a great many things which
they had not been taught at West
Point.
OF course we are all hoping that
war is at an end, or at least that it
will be a verv long time in coming
again; but We would be foolish in
deed to act on hope which may not
be realized. We should lose no time
in beginning to train a considerable
number of our young men in the art
and science of modern warfare, and
especially in the mechanics of mod
ern war Much of this sort of train
ing can very properlv be. given in
our higher institutions of learning,
as a part of the regular courses.
And it is entirely proper that a reas-
enable amount of military training
be required of all made students in
the universities and colleges sup
ported by the state and govern
ment.
But there is one thing against
which the people of the United
States should set their faces like
flint, and that is. anv effort looking
toward turning over our colleges
and universities to the military men
even in a small way. We have had
|
there is a college in the entire land
which had satisfactory experience
with the students training corps
scheme tried last year we have yet
to hear of it. All of the college
men we have talked with seem to
feel that the introduction of militarv
methods into the schools was bad in
every way. 1t broke down the
moral and educational standards. 1t
interfered with the school work. 1t
had a thorough. demoralizing in
fiuence.
A few weeks ago, the father of
young man who has Just reached the
college age, visited an Iowa college
which has enjoyed an unusually
fine reputation for the character of
its work He was there on Sabbath
afternoon, and as he walked through
the boys dormitories, he was shock
ed and grieved to see number OF
the bows playing cards, smoking
cigarettes, and using language
quite out of keeping with the day
and with the surroundings. Upon
expressing his surprise and regret
to find such a condition. the head Of
the institution attributed it to the
influence which had been brought
into the school with the inaugura-
ton of the students training corp
scheme the year before. He went
on to say that while everything
possible was being done to rebuild
the morale of the institution and to
erect once more the high standards
which had always been maintained
there. it would take some time be-
fore they would entirely recover
from the unfortunate experience.
There is no reason why the stu
dents in our colleges and UNIVERSE
ties should not be given instruction
in science and mechanics of war es-
pecially as a good deal OF, that in
struction will he in line with the va
rious courses the, are taking. Nor
is there any reason WIN they
drill 20 fit them to discharge the du-
ties of officers in time OF need, Rut
one of the YER. worst things that
could happen to us would he to
have militarv methods and military
ideals imposed upon our young
men. and upon the young women
as well in our educational institu-
lions. We will find Il necessary In
the future to maintain a larger stand
ing arm, than we have maintained
in the mast. Human nature is not
changed verv easily. We must be
prepared to take care of our own
interests. But let those who are to
make profession of arms get their
n 4. l.