The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-03-06
EDUCATIONAL ARMY
IS BIG SUCCESS
II Has Passed Experimental Stage
Now and is Vital Factor In Train
ing Of Soldier, ofsicers
Say.
PRESENT PLAN rs NEW
Heads Of Department Want to Eniis,
Men Of High Moral Character
and in Splendid Physical
Condition.

1
applied TO the new army has passed
the experimental stage and is now
vital factor in the training Of the
soldier was shown at a convention
of army educa tional officers held re-
Gently at Camp Zachary Taylor, near
Louisville, Ky.
| Early in the year, the war depart
ment actuated by a deep sense of re-
sponsibility felt toward the millions
of men brought into the service dur
ing the war, as well as by the as
founding facts as to illiteracy and
physical condition Of the young men
of the country as shown by draft sta
by the commission on education and
special training, had conceived an
army built up on new plan. It was
proposed to make the army not only
q military force to be trained and
ready in time of national emergency,
but a great educational institution
where young men Of the best men
! tai, moral and physical conditions.
and with the highest ideals of patri-
otto citizenship would be produced.
This plan was realized, in a mea-
sure, when congress appropriated the
sum of s2,O00,0O0 to be devoted to
this purpose during the fiscal year
1920. Accordingly, in September OF
this year Instructions went forward
to the commanding generals Of all
divisional camps and of territorial
departments, who at once appointed
on their STATS, officers known as
education and recreation officers to
assume direct charge Of the work.
Each officer has associated with him
at least one civilian expert in educa-
tional affairs, who furnishes assist
ance and advice in establishing
schools and manual training classes.
But 1t remained for the Camp Tay-
lor convention, called by the secre-
tary of war in order that the work
in general might be coordinated
and rough places smoothed out, to
show that the army Is now in reality
a great training school,
| No longer Is the army merely con-
cerned with the making of a recruit
into an efficient fighting man, by
giving him the prescribed system Of
military training only for a few hours
of the day and leaving him almost
entirely to his own resources for the
remainder Of the day. It now as
sumes responsibility for the entire
twenty-four hours of his day, and
sees that every portion is gainfully
spent in useful study or helpful rec
:reatiop. In the soldiers life educa-
ton and recreation now have equal
places with military training and are
definitely scheduled in the program
iof daily work.
Under the system Of education now
in force 1t is possible for men to re-
ceiye instruction so as to fit them to
be carpenters, blacksmiths, pharma-
cists, dental assistants, engine work
ers, mechanics, craftsmen, stenogra-
piers. truck gardeners, motor driv-
ers. repair men, telegraphers, radio
and telephone operators. etc. Such
educational subjects as English, geog-
raphy, mathematics, United States
history and modern languages are
also taught. OF course, at the present
stage of the game it is not possible
to give instruction in all subjects at
any one camp or post, but 50 far as
practicable, the desires of the en-
listed men as to the courses to be
taken by him will be met.
certificate will be given by the
local commanding officer OF school
officer to each man who successfully
completes course, Indicating that
he has satisfactorily completed the
course studied. A standing war de-
paHment certificate will later be
adopted, and the possession of such a
certificate by a soldier who has been
discharged with a character of "Ex-
cellent" will be sufficient recommen-
dation to civilian employer as to
the qualihcatlons OF the discharged
soldier for employment.