South Bend news-times., 1919-06-05
AME ERICAN BOYS
ATTEND SCHOOL
WHILE OVERSEA
Wade Through Mud to ScantIy
Equipped CIaSSroOmS
Throughout France.

PARIS. June 2.-Sa ores Of thous-
ands Of American soldiers eagerly
have grasped the opportunity to at
tend the schools which the army is
now providing for all the men Of
the American eXpeditionary force.
under the direction of the Educa-
tional corps.
The post schools which are pri-
mary grades Of this school are used
wherever they can find a roof TO
shelter them. F1oundering through
the mud Of some little hamlet where
American soldiers are stationed. one
is likely TO stumble upon such
school IN fun operation. An army
chaplain recently chanced upon
such a school the pupils Of which
were standing on benches because
the floor was under six inches Of
water and in room dimly lighted
by candles stuck in bottles. The
sergeant-teacher was using a piece
Of tarred paper as "A blackboard 1t
was IL o'clock at night and fourteen
men whose military duties prevented
them from attending in regular
hours composed the extra class
Symbolic Of Spirit.
This little scene is symbolic Of
the spirit with which the American
soldiers have taken advantage OF
the educational training offered
them by the army school system.
Men in some cases are working
eight. ten and twelve hours a day
at military duties and then studying
az night i'm the post schools. tired i'm
body but doggediy determined. In
some cases they have voluntarily
worked AT night so as TO be allowed
to attend a lecture or school session
IN the daytime. Uliterate men who
have been taught 10 read and write
often ask permission 20 take their
dog-eared primers home with them
when their divisions start for Ameri-
ca Thousands Of such mer have
been started on the road u eduCa-
tion i'm the past few monthhs
But it must not be mistakably as
sumed that the soldier boys are
coming back with a higher educa-
ton" The big idea Of the lEduca-
tional corps is TO give a man q start
and enable him to find himself" so
TO speak. Many soldier has been
a round peg in square hole back
home. The army is helping thea
men 10 get started in the right
groove.
Practically Key Word.
Practically is the key word of
all the educational courses. The
soldier is not going to schol merely
for the "fun of it," He wants re-
suits that will help him with his
lob back home and he is getting
them. Vocational training is an
important and successful feature Of
the post school and there are few
trades that are not taught in some
OF them. In the academic course.
history. English and mathematics
hold the major places. If these is
sufficient demand for the teaching
Of a given subject it is placed on the
curriculum.
Agriculture. courses are provided
in many OF the schools and fnd
many pupils. Fifty percent Of the
men in the army are from rural
districts and many Of thCn intend 10
return to their farms. Thousands
OF city men who have had their first
days OF outdoor life since they join
cd the army declare they will never
return TO the office stool. They like
the independence OF the farmer and
hope 10 go into agricultural work
when they return
The practical phases OF farming
are being taught 10 the men. Teach
ing OF citizenship is an important
course. Under this head comes la
bor problems and subjects vital TO
the national welfare.