Evening star., 1944-06-06
Letters to The Star
a.
Three Readers Discuss Proposals
to Change Cadet Training

| against the proposals of DR.. Chester w.
| Holmes for modifying the High School
| Cadet Corps. He would substitute an
emphasis on physical training for the
military drill, with its competitions and
| awards. that has characterized the corps
| since its founding in 1882 Essentially,
| he would change the corps from a mill
tary organization into number of glor-
lhed gym classes. So altered, the corps
| could not continue to render the unique
| educational service which has benefited
thousands of District boys for 81 years.
Although intensive physical educa-
tion is called for by the war, the cadet
corps is not the proper organization to
| provide it. With its time for drilling
limited, it cannot do so without sac
rif1cins military proficiency. Physical
| training better may be left in the hands
| of regular instructors.
DR.. Holmes contends that the military
drill of the corps Is Anticipated" and
lacking real teeth to cope with the
war situation" Probably, he bases his
criticism upon the current stress on
physical conditioning in the armed
forces. Several facts are pertinent in
answer to this argument First, an ele-
mentary military organization function
Ing only three hours weekly hardly can
be expected to cope with the war situa-
tlon' IN any very pretentious degree.
second, close-order drill still plays a
fundamental role in the basic training
OF the armed forces, and the cadet corps
oil ;IoL
f1clency in drill. The success and value
OF its effort over the past years will
be attested by many members of the
armed forces
Most important, inherent in the mill
tary character OF the corps are values
which no other type of activity can
| provide and which would be lost if
the proposed alteration were effected.
Chief among these values are the equal
| tiles OF discipline, self-reliance, leader
ship and initiative inspired by member
snip In the corps. Cadets attain a high
level OF both competitive teamwork and
individual accomplishment, gaining ex-
| per1ence which remains with them
throughout their lives.
The morale OF the corps would suffer
dlsastrously were the annual inter-hieh
competitives abolished, as DR.. Holmes
also has proposed. BY itself the annual
company competitive Is the strongest
single driving force in the working of
the corps, the peak of a ladder of COM
petition starting with the individual and
embracing every unit, from SQUAD To
regiment. This competition. the yerv
core OF the training, exists within the
framework of city-wide organization
which Immediately would lose its unity
with abolition of the annual competi-
tlVes. Elimination of the awards which
are part of this competition Is eouallv
undesirable. Either action drastically
would curtatl the enthusiasm of cadets
and discourage recruiting.
For value received" DR. Holmes him.
self stated in 1910, nothing in the Dis
trlct schools surpasses the cadet corps~ -
How Dr. Holmes now can disparage the
corps with the term social organiza-
t1on 1 am at loss to understand. He
surely should be advised to consult the
experience OF present and past cadets
before pressing consideration of his plan
by the Board of Education.
JAMES G. DEANE.
To the Editor Of The Star:
DR.. Holmes proposed plan to revise
the High School Cadet Corps is one
which should not be put into effect.
For more than go years the corps has
1unctioned on purely voluntary basis
and successfully. Boys have become
caoets OF their own volition. They are
OF the finest type of young men-both
In character and scholastically. In order
to remain in the corps they must main
tain this high standard.
The training these lads have received
and now are receiving is incidental to
thelr schooling and yet gives them suffi-
clent military work to make them fine
citizens. Whenever boys are needed to
do special Jobs requiring the charac-
teristics of gentlemen, the cadets have
always been singled out.
Men who were former cadets look
back with pride and satisfaction to the
time they spent in the corps, and this
Is evidenced particularly at the time of
tne company competitive drill held an
nually.
In order to maintain esprit de corns
and a healthy, Wholesome group of
boys tand girls in high schools. the
present setup should be continued and
II possible, under the leadership of 1t.
Col. William Barkman, who as a. former
caoet himself and assistant professor
OF military science and tactics, can fol-
low In the footsteps of Col. Wallace M
Craigie. GEc
To the Editor Of The Star:
The plan to revise cadet training re-
calls the days Of Billy Mitchell's futile
attempts to give lis real "air arm "
and numerous other far sighted Amer
leans whose warnings and pleadings for
early training and preparation for the
present conflict were squashed by our
ever present horse and buggy" ma
)orlty public opinion. It's wonder that
Morse, Edison and Bell were not assassi
mated. Our educa tional system produces
thls majority short sightedness.
Our former methods of military train
ing were good when they were initiated
many years ago; later improvements
and knowledge gained in practical psv-
chology and actual battle have brought
TO light many things of real Value.
think DR.. Holmes very wise to see the
need for change.