Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-06
COLONEL URGES
PUBLIC SCHOOL
ARMY TRAINING
Discipline and Physical De
velopsnent Strong Points
Made.

The proposition Of universal mill
tary training was strongly supported
by Lieutenant Colonel T. J.. Rogers
Of the district recruiting Office, in an
interview granted this morning. Lieu
tenant Colonel Rogers also stated
that efforts would be made shortly
to interest, the board of education
in providing military training in the
local high school.
The officer declares that such mill
tary training as could be given In
this high school, as in hundreds of
other high schools in the country,
would be Of great benefit in training
the young student. Discipline and
the physical development are two
main points made by the officer in
urging training in the high school.
In speaking Of such training, Lieu
tenant Colonel Rogers stated:
THE bodily development OF an in
dividual depends in a large measure
upon the activity Of functions which
he exercises. Especially is this true
In earlier years, when bodily develop
ment is at its maximum, say from IA
to 20. Thus do we see that properly
directed physical training is an es-
sential to q ~well-rounded physical de-
velopment-
statistics Of the provost marshal
generals office show that 20 per cent
Of al drafted men examined were re-
jected as physically unfit for general
military service, In other words, L.
1ss,450 men suffered from sufficient
disability to prevent them from par
ticipating in their country's first n
Of defense. .
1T is believed that q large amount
Of the defects might have been pre-
r>>%oa nod ,niverea1 military train
ing been in effect in this country prior
to the present war. AS proof of this
statement let me say that such emf
nent authorities as Drs. Bradford
and Lovett of Boston state that from
20 to 80 per cen of school children
have such a degree of curvature OF
the spine as to need medical atten-
ton. This is a defect which military
training could correct in The vast ma
iority Of cases and is a condition
which il not overcome early in life
i%nterferes with the proper action of
the heart and lungs and renders one
very susceptible to diseases of the
chest. Many cases Of myopia. or
short-sightedness. which is SO preva-
lent, are a result of a stopping posture.
Fiat feet, hip and knee strains are at
especially in walking. Military drill
does much to correct all these evils
IL begun at a relatively early age.
The prompt treatment of diseased
tonsils, adenoids and decayed teeth,
which would follow If the youth were
accepted for military service. would
do much to prevent the occurrence in
later life Of rheumatism, digestive dis
eases, Brtght's disease, etc.
These facts are mentioned in or
der to bring out some Of the advan-
tages Of universal military training
to the average youth Of this country.
However. the object sought for Is
not the acquisition of mere brute
strength, but Of alertness, agility, en-
DURANGO and coordination. Military
training also does much to instill in
the youth obedience and se~lf-restraint,
which improve him mentally as we'll
as physically. Training in rifle
shooting also does much to produce
coordination in nerve centers and
muscle masses Finally, military
training teaches the recruit h right
principles Of personal hygiene and
how to take care of his body in the
proper manner, and insttlls in him
right habits Of bodily activity and liv-
ing, which become almost automatic.
or involuntary, and which are of in
calculable value to him for the rest OF
his life"