The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-05-01

lDfnts
| Then there are classes for the NOR,
i. advanced such as history, civics, aige
bra, advanced English, advances
arithmetic, French, etc, including
many special subjects when demand
ed. The classes meet generally in the
afternoon in the "Y" huts. Each army
post or camp has an army "school
Officer" generally first lieutenant OF
chaplain who appoints from the ranks,
scrgeants. corporals or privates who
have capacity for teaching TO conduct
these classes. These teachers" are
In many instances men who have
taught back in the Estates" ! have
been much gratihed TO observe how
much in earnest and how efficient
these teachers are, also ct the re-
sponse made on the part Of their
Pupils
The daily routine Of the soldier, the
scarcity Of text books, the lack Of a
suitable place TO study and other
handicaps all necessarily limit the
quantity Of the output considerable as
this is in the aggregate, but the quail
ity Is excellent and the results abund-
antly justify the effort and expense
involved in carrying through SO diff
fieult a program.
Hundreds of thousands of "Our
Boys" will return TO the United States
better prepared as wage earners and
better prepared for the duties and re-
sponsibilities Of citizenship. Thous-
ands will be awakened to the value
and necessity of further education and
will continue their work in night
schools, etc. on their return.
In many divisions of the army there
are now being established so-called
Divisional schools where candidates
applying are sent from the different
posts to take up vocational training,
such as agricultural subjects, automo-
bile repairing, gas engines, barbering,
horse-shoeing, cooking, etc. High
school subjects will also be offered.
The divisional school of the S8th is
at st. Joere, about fifteen kilometers
from here. Fifty barrack building
have been constructed TO accommo-
date the 1000 soldiers who will here
give ups their time exclusively to
school work for the next three months.
Some idea of the interest aroused by
this divisional school is indicated by
the fact that 6,000 men applied for
admission.
Several thousand college men and
high-school graduates have been re-
leased to go to the English and French
universities. Take the whole army
educational program originated and
instituted by the Y. M. c. A. and
adopted by the army and 1t certainly
Stands as one of the most unique and
ambitious enterprises of modern times
and a great source Of admiring won
derment TO the British and French
people.
AS Divisional Y. NJ. C. A. Adviser"
or supervisor, my duties require me to
visit all the schools in the division
once in every eight or ten days, advise
with the school officers and school
teachers and to second them in their
efforts in every way possible. | have
also taken upon myself the supplying |
of the "Y" huts with boxes of books
for general reading sent on to me
from Paris by the A. L. A. Also /
have charge, assisted by corporal
detailed from the army, of reference
library for use in the different post
schools. | also 'route" lecturers
through the division, working in con-
nection with the army entertainment
office, which has now taken over near
ly all the Entertainment" activities
of the "Y,"
At present | am taking great pleas
ure in scheduling dates for Royal Dix
on the well known author and lecturer
on plants and animals. Some of you
may have read his Human Side of
Plants" which made him famous. He
is a most stimulating and interesting
lecturer. | take him out each night
in the indispensable Ford car" to the
different camps where he speaks to
audiences of from a few hundred up
10 one thousand or more men. Before
he leaves this area hope to have him
speak at every camp of the sSth
Division which win mean that he will
have addressed upwards of 10000 men
IN this area.
The above account will indicate that
have enough to do to keep me out Of
mischief. | will incidentally mention .
he fact that Mr.. Dixon has promised /.
% come to Manchester some time and
give us some of his lectures on birds
md plants, etc. shall hold him to ,
lis promise.
Already my letter is too long and
here is no time to tell of the pictur- |.
,sque French villages and cities and :
,ther localities rich in historic inter !;
st, nor Of Dom-Remy the home Of
Jeanne D'Arc, nor of the unique and :,
olorful army life, both of the A. f. +. :
md of the French army which is much :
n evidence also All this must wait :,
more suitable occasion when hope
o have the pleasure Of telling you
more fully of my interesting expert :
noes.
Incidentally ! trust my varied ex- Z
,eYienceS here will enable me on my :,