South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-31
To USE ARMY FOR
EDUCATIONAL UNIT
Plans Demonstrated by Com
mission in France May Be
Followed Here.

PARIS, April y. IBy Mall)-A
great new educational force in the
shape of the American regular army
will come into being in the United
States in the near future if the pres
ent plans of government officials,
army officers and prominent civilian
educators are realized.
Briefly, it is proposed to make
Uncle Sans standing army a huge
university in which the young men
OF the country will receive not only
physical and military training. but
will be given opportunities TO &C
quire academic and vocational learn
ing which might be beyond their
reach in civil life. The old days of
virtual wastage of time which re
presented almost blank pages in the
lie diary of the soldier will be a
thing of the past. Instead of being
turned back into civil life in a more
helpless state than when he entered
the army he willie be equipped to
wage a vigorous fight for his place
in the sun of the business or profess
sional world.
Demonstrate Possibilities.
The possibilities of this plan have
been demonstrated in the wonderful
work done during the past few
months by the educational commits
sion in the American eXpeditionary
force in France. Since the signing
of the armistice something like 49,
OOO American soldiers have been ap-
preciably benefited by the army
oh HI r, p in,
the reach of every man and which
have provided facilities TO study al
most every conceivable subject, from
farming to philosophy.
Few of the army educators in
France realized at the outset how
great "A work they were starting. The
avidity with which the enlisted man
and his officer have seized upon the
proffered opportunities has astound-
ed them.
With this object lesson before il,
the army has been inspired TO carry
on this work at home in the stand
ing forces The project assumes, it
is understood, that the standing
army of the future will be a com
paratively large one. and that there
may be a short period of compulsory
training for the youths OF the cOun-
try. although the scheme is not de-
pendent upon the compulsory fea-
ture.
To Teach All Subjects.
Under the new system all subjects
Will be taught, from A. b, Cs for
the illiterate, up through perhaps
the first year of university work.
/ Vocational training would naturally
form the most important phase of
the program. BOYS who had had
no opportunity for schooling before
entering the army would be started
on their way and would be permitted
TO reenlist at the expiration Of their
service in order 10 carry on their
studies. Others, who perhaps had
finished high school. would be given
a chance TO begin their college
course so that there would be no
waste OF time in case they were
planning 10 go into professions or
business.
There would be military training,
Of course, and the soldiers would be
made as nearly physically perfect
as possible A large part of their
time, however. would be devoted, if
they so desired. 10 improving their
minds. Thus. the army believes. any
boy, no matter what his standing in
society. would be materially benefit
ed by his period OF service with the
colors
VIII Help Uneducated.
Probably the man who would
profit most would be the one who
had acquired either no education or
had been forced 10 leave school at
an early age; for example. a New
| York East Side boy who has left
school TO help support the family
and has no equipment 10 enable him
10 secure lucrative work and so
drifts about in unskilled labor II
he enters the army. he is TO be put
10 work in the school, housed and fed
and paid a regular wage which he
can send home TO his people. At
the end OF the year it is expected
that he will be proficient enough I'm
his trade so that he can secure
job with good prospects The gate
10 ,se broad highway will be open
ed ~ him.