Evening star., 1943-08-01
Stimson Says Schools
Should Stress Fitness
Over Military Drill
By MARION WADE DOYLE.

The War Department would not
approve of curtailing the physical
fitness program In District high
schools to permit enforcement of
the proposed compulsory military
drill, according to Secretary of War
Stimson.
The Secretary's position became
known yesterday with publication
of a letter from him in the weekly
educational magazine, School and
Society. He had been asked by DR..
John w. Studebaker, commissioner
of education, to give an opinion on
the comparative values of general
physical training and military drill.
The Secretary replied:
THE War Department does not
recommend that military drill take
the place OF physical education in
the schools and colleges during this
war period"
Military drill can be given
quickly and under the most pro-
ductive circumstances" he said,
after the young recruit gets into the
Army.
Stresses Need of Fitness.
"A good physical condition, how
ever" he wrote, cannot be devel-
oped in so short space of time, and
the physical condition of a soldier
Is Of prime Importance to the War
Department"
The letter was read with interest
by school officials here because the
District cadet and physical fitness
programs are now being reviewed by
the Board of Education for possible
changes in the fall.
Two proposals now are before the
board. One is from Acting Superin-
tendent of Schools Chester w.
Holmes and one from board mem
ber, DR.. James A. Cannon. DR..
Holmes has suggested the board seek
revision of the congressional legis-
lation of 1907 to permit him to
make military drill compulsory. Ap-
proval of legislation on compulsory
drill has been given Informally at
the District Building and by some
members of the House and Senate
If military drill is made compul-
sory, Dr. Cannon has suggested it
might be combined with the physical
fitness program to safeguard the
health of boys trying to study,
march. train and work after school.
A combined program would require
curtailment of the present system of
three periods week of active exer-
else and two periods week of
health lectures.
viii Poll Parents.
Opinion of both parents and stu
dents will be informally polled by
board members during the rest of
the summer before voting this fall
on any changes in the present sys-
TEN, 1t was decided at special board
meeting Friday. All suggestions
made so far have been merely tenta-
tive, it was emphasized The board
has the alternative of dismissing
them and continuing with the pres
ent arrangement of compulsory
physical education and optional
military drill.
Mr.. Stimsons letter was as fol-
lows:
Dear Mr.. Studebaker:
Il have your letter asking whether
the War Department recommends
that military drill take the place of
physical education in the curriculum
of schools and colleges. assume
your question to apply only to the
period of the present war and not
to periods OF peace.
Drill Easily Taught.
THE amount of military drill
which can be given in schools and
colleges can also be given after
Induction into the Army. in rela-
lively short time and under the
most productive circumstances. A
good physical condition, however.
cannot be developed in so short
space of time, and the physical con-
dition Of soldier is of prime i'm
portance to the War Department.
THE War Department does not
want to appear to advise upon the
makeup of a curriculum, nor to 60
beyond outlining some of the ele-
ments which the Army believes
would be advantageous in it's re-
cruits. OF these, good physical
condition is extremely important
and a knowledge of basic military
drill relatively unimportant
The War Department therefore
does not recommend that military
drill take the place of physical edu-
cation in the schools and colleges
during this war period
The War Department has no OBJ
lection to the publica ton of this
statement, provided it is quoted In
its entirety.
Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of
War"