Evening star., 1949-07-30
CorningCharge,
Army yConfuses
Cadet Program
Contradictory Action
Cited in Report on
Analysis for Teoeue

Analysis tor league
Contradictory actions of the
Army which have "perplexed'
local school officials trying to i'm
prove the status of the declining
High School Cadet Corps have
been criticized by School Supt.
Hobart M. Corning.
Meeting yesterday, the Students
Activities Committee of the Board
of Education heard DR.. Corning
report on an analysis of the cadet
corps troubles, which he prepared
for submission to Representative
league, Democrat, of Texas. The
Texas Representative has been
concerned over the low state of
the cadets here.
DR.. Corning admitted the cadet
corps was "in serious condition
and said his criticism of the Army
was not an alibi.
I'VE do feel, however, that there
Is evidence that the various agents
of the Army have not been con-
sistent and have not applied uni
form standards of evaluation, ="
DR.. Corning declared. Until the
inspection standards and prac-
tices are uniform and consistent,
officers in charge cannot be ex-
pected to know what next steps
should be taken"
Cites Army Approval.
Earlier this month. inspectors of
the Army reported that only one
high school in the city. Western.
was maintaining a satisfactory
cadet unit. I
DIR. Corning said much of the
criticism in the report was di-
rected at the instructional pro-
gram of the cadets.
However, last fall the program
to be followed during the ensuing
year was submitted to the Army,
and on October 18, 1948. we re-
ceived the approval of this pro-
gram in writing from the Army" p"
he stated He added:
THAT program was followed
through the year, and yet another
agency of the Army criticized the
schools because certain elements
Of training were not included" &
DR.. Corning said it was difficult
"to reconcile" the unsatisfactory
rating of the cadets, because be-
fore the report came out. Maj.
Gen. Hobart r. Gay, commanding
general of the Military District OF
Washington. presented the cadets
with certificates of proficiency in
a big ceremony on the steps of
Franklin Administration Building.
Reversal on Mckinley.
He said further that an inspec-
ton by the ordnance technical
inspection team gave all schools
but Mckinley High School a salts
factory rating on the care Of
weapons. The general inspection
which followed gave Mckinley the
only satisfactory rating, he added.
Naturally, the school officers
are somewhat confused" he
stated.
DR.. Corning said that "very lit
tie support" is given the cadet
corps by the Army. This support
is limited to providing guns,
small amount of ammunition and
the services of Army officers for
inspections.
DR.. Corning said the greatest
blow by far" the cadet program
has received was administered by
the Army itself when, in 1882, the
services of Army officers as pro-
fessors of military science and tao
tics and as instructors of the vari-
Gus units were Withdrawn.
The lengthy report was adopted
by the Student Activities Com
mittee and, following a poll of
members of the full board, will
be sent to Mr.. league.
Lists Reasons for Slump.
DIR. Corning's report listed these
among the reasons the interest in
the cadet corps has declined:
The end of World War II
brought a tendency to be less in
terested in military practices.
Students report the feeling that
through selective service they in
evitably will receive military train
ing anyway. High school enroll
ments have suffered a decline in
enrolment in the last few years
which, naturally, is reflected in
the cadet enrolment.
In 1943, Congress provided
money to expand the physical edu-
cation program so that every high
school student had to take five
periods week, with resulting ef-
feet on the cadet enrolment. Cost
of uniforms deters many boys
from joining the cadets. Outside
employment is available to take
boys away from the cadet activi-
ties, which must be in the after
moons.