The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-05-20

INSTRUCTION IN ALL
GRADES BEING GIVEN
Elementary Subjects Taught in Post
Schools and General or Vocational
Education in Divisional Educational
Centers-Thousands of Students.

WASHINGTON, May 20-The war
department has authorized statement OF
the educational opportunities for the
American soldier overseas, showing that
it is at present carrying on a teaching
enterprise in the American expeditionary
force which is unique in magnitude, I'M
comprehensiveness, and in the rapidlty
with which the plan has been put in eff
feet The work embraces graded courses
all the way from the clements of reading
and writing to advanced scholarship and
professional training The important
bearing of such activities ON the morale
of the army has beef recognized from
the time of our entrance into the war.
ated both a greater need and greater
opportunity. 1t removed the greatest in
centive to industry and strict observance
Of military routine. As the date Of dis
charge was now near at hand it became
necessary to prepare the soldier for re-
turn to civilian pursuits.
The educational work is divided into
four parts: J. Post Schools; . Divisional
Educational Centers; g. American Army
University at Beaune, and 4, the detail
Of officers and soldiers as students at
French and British universities Enroll
ment in any of these groups is voluntary,
but after enrolment attendance is compul-
sorry until the completion Of the course.
Starting with the Post Schools, these
are established in units of 500 or more
/ men. about 40 schools in each division
and loo in the whole American expedl
! tionary force Three hours a day are
devoted TO instruction and study, sub
stituted for that amount of drill There
is special demand fer English, French
history. geography, citizenship, and math
ematics. Emphasis is placed on citizen
ship, with illustrated lectures and th'
interesting presentation of concrete fact
and problems There are about 10000
soldiers enrolled Sa 'these schools, 1900
of whom are members of the army of oc
cupauon. Soldiers not enrolled will re
turn with their respective organization
| when ordered 40 the United States
Next are the Divisional Edueationa
Centres OF secqndaryaQr high school grade
Here. after q survey to determine tn
subjects most in demand. the men ar
organized in provisional educational com
panies or detachments conveniently locat
ed Not more than Is per cent of an
command may be selected for this il
stfuction The men spend a minimum c
five hours per day, five days OF the weel
for a period OF three months Drill
reduced to one hour per day The course
Of study fan into two main divisions, VI
catonal and general
Vocational training in these high schools
rs found practicable in virtually all d
visions, embraces carpentry telephone r
pair, wire and wireless telegraphy, su
veying road construction. horseshoein
automobile repair, eobbling, tailoring ba
berlng cooking, baking, and nursing III
general course covers such subjects
algebra, trigonometry, mechanical draw
irg, agriculture. craftsmanship, economic
English literature, advanced French, tia
ian, Spanish. German and history st
dents may when their respective ora
izatons are ordered to the United State
apply for transfer to other divisional e
ucational centeTs for the purpose of cor
plotting courses. The size of these gre
secondary schools is indicated ly the 8
corps school. comprising three division
and attended BY about 5000 students.
The American Army university was
gained to provide for the needs of t
secondary school graduates, and to pr
vide especially those studies for viii
there was not sufficient demand or equi
ment at the local school The army h
thus established as its central Institute
the largest university in the Englis
speaking world" 1t is called the Anne
can Army university and is at Beaur
in the Department of Cote dor southea
Of Paris, and 20 miles south of Die
This university is established on the 81