Evening star., 1942-05-21
Step-Up Urged
In Toughening
Of fCadets
Army Recommends
Half of Time Be
Devoted to Process
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON, Jr.

The War Department has rec
commended that District high
school cadets spend half their
time next year on physical train
ing and toughening.
This was disclosed yesterday at
a meeting of the Board Of Educa-
ton by Asst. Supt. Chester w.
Holmes in response to a query
from a member as to what the
cadets would do since the Army
is recalling all their rifles as of
June IS.
DR.. Holmes said the high school
principals we're to discuss what
the cadet program should be
next year at meeting early
next week, possibly Tuesday.
In addition to spending so per
cent of the cadet time on toughening
exercises and calisthenics, the War
Department suggested So per cent
of the remaining half be devoted to
drill without arms and IA per cent
to drill with the Garand rifles, which
might be made available in small
quantities-perhaps one to each SO
men, DR.. Holmes said
Wooden Guns Considered.
Some thought has been given to
the use Of wooden guns and one
principal has had a sample weapon
made up in his woodshop. DR..
Holmes continued, but it was not
decided just what the reaction of
the cadets would be to the sub
stitute.
Since the schools are about to
embark on a stepped-up physical
training program of five periods a
week for the senior high schools
provided the school budget is ap-
proved by the Senate as it passed
the House, Dr. Holmes said the
percentages suggested by the Army
might be revised a bit with not quite
so much cadet time devoted to the
physical training.
Meanwhile. with the prospect of
coetA AAiS HAiCCS lOl CdOCI
next fall. the board members left
with their committee on student ac-
tivities power to act as to whether
khaki should not replace the blue
wool uniforms for the duration.
Increase Figure Given.
The Baltimore uniform company
that has the contract has advised
school officials that the blue
uniforms will be 81 or So more ex-
pensive than they were this year
that for the cadet officers jumping
from s25.28 to S33 90. ABOUT 10 per
cent or some 200 cadets each year
have to obtain new uniforms.
DR.. Holmes said the khaki would
cost orfe' 5000 and added that the
high school principals by a vote of
IA had supported using the khaki
for the duration of the war only
as the official uniform. If this plan
were adopted, he said, cadets would
wear the blues-those that already
have them-as dress uniforms to
dances and any functions where
they might serve as ushers and the
Like. If the whole brigade were in
volved, however, the khaki would
be used.
Tradition Guides Four.
The dissenting four votes, DR..
Holmes said, were based on an un-
willingness to surrender the tradi-
tional blue uniform even during the
war and rising prices. Under the
new scale quoted to school officers,
the private's uniform would be in
creased from s22 go to s29.75 and the
non-commisSioned officer from 500 "a
to S29.95.
1t is expected the committee will
go along with the majority of the
principals on the matter, since un-
til they discovered the vote was not
unanimous the board members were
willing to accept the change yes
terday. c. Melvin Sharpe, board
member, pointed out that in wearing
the khaki the cadets would be in
line with the Army and Navy and
the the khaki would no taar as
easily in the extended order drills
as the blue wool.