New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-02
An Army Goes to School
General Wood Testing His Theory That Military Training
end Education Can Be Carried On Together

good living and to conserve that which he
has made. The elementary courses de-
signed to bring about this objective are
reading, writing and arithmetic These
classes arc compulsory for all so-caIed
iliterates. There are 800 students, under
thirty instructors, in this school.
For more advanced students a choice of
courses in Spanish, savings and invest
ments. insurance, thrift and banking is
offered. The study of Spanish was en-
couraged on account of our relation to
our Latin American neighbors. good
sized class has been enrolled. All the fore
going classes, that is, those looking tow
ard industrial and economic efficiency, are
conducted at the camp by officers or soldier
instructors, men who in civil life were
specialists in the various subjects. Seek
ing the same objective are the classes in
agriculture and engineering trades being
carried on at Manhattan.
May Learn a Trade
In addition to the vocationals training
being conducted for advanced students a,
Manhattan, there seven schools at Fun
ston, formerly purely military, now being
operated with the idea of teaching men
trades useful in civil life They are the
horseshoeng school, blacksmithng school,
motor transport repair shops, shops for
harness and saddle making, the steam
heating plant where steamfitting is taught,
the cooks and bakers school and the school
in radio tclegraphy.
intoxicating national consciousness is
the third objective. Five lecture courses,
namely, American history, American biog-
raphy, American literature, American geog-
raphy and American government, readily
presented themselves. National ideals and
the advantages our government affords it's
citizens are two points that have been par
ticularly stressed in this work.
Social efficiency, that is, training the
soldier who soon is to become civilian
TO enjoy himself and add to the enjoyment
Of others without degrading himself, is the
fourth objective. knowledge of physi-
ology and hygiene is considered charac-
ter builder and to carry with it will power
and personal influence. Games, boxing and
wrestling give self-assurance and health.
Dramatics, such as the burlesque, amateur
plays and pageantry, find response in the
highey instincts of men. These subjects,
then, were included in the scheme.
One other objective, community service,
completes the wood Plan" This objective
contemplates training man to be a good
citizen in his local neighborhood Civil
government, county government, the COM
munity centre movement, community insti-
tutons and community health and santa
ton are the subjects adopted to reach this
objective. These courses are in charge of
officers familiar with the work and in
structors lent by the college.
Making Good Citizens
Less than a month ago the plan was only
vision. To-day it is working organiza-
ton. The feat of changing a military
camp into a huge school within few
weeks offered job in administrative work
second only to building the camp itself.
Credit for this accomplishment is due Major
Johnson. who has made the plan reality.
When the task given him by General
Wood there was only the crude material
out Of which to build. The officers who
were capable Of giving instruction were in