Evening star., 1949-09-29
Cadet Corps Praised for Recognition
s OF Individuality in Boys Esi

OF individuality in Boys 4$ e.
TO the Editor Of The Star:
IT. M" in his letter to The Star, printed
few days ago, holds a completely different
concept Of the Washington High School
Cadet Corps than Is held, believe, by most
Cadet alumni.
In the first place. the Cadet Corps makes
no boast that it will prepare a boy for
combat or will make training by the Army
unnecessary in the event Of future war.
1t is true that some courses given by the
Cadet Corps-such as riflery and map read
ing-will be Of aid to the Cadet If at some
future date he should become a. combat
soldier. The Cadet Corps is not. as I. M.
seems to think, primarily defense training.
The Corps was started in 1882, time in
world affairs when military training Of
young men in the United States was not
considered of paramount Importance. The
Cadet companies were at that time. as they
are today, organized primarily as drill teams.
To be sure. some phases of combat drill are
taught to the Cadets. The emphasis, how
ever, is on the perfection of close-order
drill.
The jingoists hereupon might say: "CloSe-
order drill Is useless. We must teach our
boys the techniques of modern warfare"
To which I would reply: 1.-THE Cadet
Corps was organized in time Of peace.
It was designed not to teach the techniques
Of warfare but to teach leadership, poise.
alertness. courtesy, neatness, correct posture.
Surely 1t is as important to learn these
graces as it is to learn how to kill. Let
us leave the defense Of our country to the
Army and the National Guard. If they
feel the need of additional men, they have
Selective Service Act to fall back upon.
In the meantime let us teach our young
men the attributes of good citizenship.
There Is no finer way to teach these at
tributes than through the medium of the
High School Cadets
Benefits Of Training.
Secondly, contend that I. M. is mistaken
when he rates the time spent in the ply
sical education class as more profitable
than time spent on Cadet training. The
average boy in P. E. class is not regarded
as q personality. To his instructor he is
merely name. He is one of the hundreds
who descend on the gym for a few minutes
each day. The gym instructor usually pays
most attention to the boys he has coached
in some varsity sport. This is not the fault
Of the instructor. He cannot be expected
to become intimately acquainted with every
boy in his classes. Naturally he is most
interested in the boys about whom he knows
something. This problem seems almost in
soluble unless we build more gymnasiums
same number Of students that we allow in
the academic classes. From the standpoint
Of economy this does not seem possible
The average Cadet, however, Is a very
distinct personality not only to his COM
rades-in-arms but also to his company COM
mander. He has gone to the company
parties and picnics and has had chance
to meet his superiors in the Corps informal
ly. His commanders in Cadets are boys
only year or two older than himself.
They have the same viewpoints and the
same likes and dislikes that he has. They,
however, are boys who have been picked
for the positions they hold because Of their
more mature outlook on things in general.
The boys respond quickly to influences that
are introduced to them by teachers so near
their own age.
In my opinion the most wonderful thing
about Cadets is that 1t let's the average boy
compete against his counterparts in other
schools. In high school, unless boy Is an
outstanding athlete, he cannot compete on
the playing field against other schools. He,
however. can join the Cadets and compete
with the other schools on the drill field.
The city of Washington is fortunate in
having high school activity which can
raise the average boy from a spectator
basis to competing basis. It is pity
that more boys do not take advantage of it.
JOHN H. MOORE.