Evening star., 1949-06-06

The High School Cadet Corps has de-
veIoped some of our finest soldiers saw
practically every member of high school
cadet company 20 away to war in ls<3-my
son among them.
There is much more to the Cadet Corps
than the dress parades and the olare OF the
bands. True the boys love the admiration
of their women folk. They love the fair
ones who collect arm bands and company
insignia those feminine voices that squeal
in delight when their company gets an
award.
But there is another side 10 this picture.
Every boy in the Cadet Corps knows that
when accepting the plaudits Of his women
folk he is accepting a definite responsible
ity-an obligation to be a good soldier If his
country calls. The record speaks for itself:
the exploits of former cadets are spread
across the pages OF history. These men
from the Cadet Corps are preferred by the
military over any other class or age group.
without getting into the endless discus
sion Of women in military ranks-no person
however naive he may be. ever Is going 10
visualize girls stepping into combat ranks.
A self-respecting lighting man just can't
see where they would At in on battlefield.
So 1t all winds up in a very fine conclu-
sion: the drill formations. the slick uniforms,
the polished brass and the blare of the bands
have taken prime position in the Cadet
Corps. The feeling OF obligation and the
sense Of duty is diSSipated because every
boy knows that that girls have no intention
OF fighting when the going gets tough. The
main points the fundamentals have given
away. Face powder supercedes gun powder.
It is indeed a sad commentary.
A FRIEND OF THE CADET CORPS.
FT1,.
Your recent news article and editorial on
the state of the High School Cadet Corps
prompt me to suggest that If you want to
get at the root of the trouble you should talk
with the boys themselves. From them you
will find that the blame for the present situa-
ton can be charged in large measure TO the
school authorities.
The Cadet Corps. established by law. is not
regarded by the school officials as a curri-
cular but as an extra a-curricular activity. AS
such 1t must compete. Mt the beginning OF
each school year. with a dozen or more other
extra-curricular activities In which the be-
wildered student is urged to participate. Chief
among these Others are sports and athletics.
carried on as the special province Of the ply
sical education teachers. At the school assem-
blies and pep" rallies these other activities
received volumes of praise compared with
the few words bestowed on the Cadet Corps.
Although the school principals will say that
there is nothing TO prevent Cadet from
participating in sports. the physical educa-
ton teachers soon let him know that as
Cadet he will receive from them no attention
on the sports field. But the physical educa-
ton teachers are not alone In this attitude
Other teachers require from the Cadet Corps
instructor endless written excuses for alb
sences from study hall when a Cadet Is in the
armory. or when. as glance out OF the win
dow will show them he is on the drill ground.
In the face of these obstacles. is 1t any Won
der that the Cadet Corps has diminished in
numbers? And II you add to this cool and at
times hostile attitude OF the school oficials
the jibes Of fellow students who call the
Cadets "sissies" for not trying out as "he-
men" for THE Team" you have some OF the
potent factors that deter many students
from joining the Cadet Corps. Ask the boys.
they know. CADET PARENT.