Shirley B.H.S. To Drop Cadets

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 14

Shirley B.H.S. To Drop Cadets

The Shirley Boys’ High School board, with about 750 pupils under its control, last evening unanimously decided to drop cadet training. Instead, boys will be offered adventure training and shooting instruction outside school hours. The headmaster (Mr C. V. Gallagher) said the time required by the new cadet scheme was excessive, and should not be subtracted from hours required for education.

Mr H. J. Walker, M.P., a board member, sent a telegram saying that 106 schools had replied to the cadet proposals by the end of October and 29 had not been heard from. Sixty-five would comply with the new scheme. Others wanted to but suggested amended conditions which would be considered, provided no shortening of training was involved.

Mr Gallagher said he had just received the latest directive on hours of training. The demands were excessive, and he recommended that the school drop cadets immediately.

“Under the pressures of modern education we can’t afford the time, and I believe leadership can be developed in other ways,” said Mr Gallagher. Mr Gallagher suggested extension of the adventure training already offered plus instruction in rifle handling and shooting. He believed that, in this, the school could still make a claim for military assistance with transport and ammunition. These could be provided free or at a nominal charge, as the training would still be valuable to the country. “The flew cadet demands are excessive and unrealistic,” said the deputy-chairman (Mr D. W. Rutherford). “This board did not want to drop cadets but it has no alternative. The substitute programme should be just as valuable.” “Too often cadets involve long periods of boring routine with a few spells of interest,” said the chairman (Mr J. R. H. Hefford). Other members supported these two views. It was agreed to write directly to the Ministers of Education and Defence seeking assistance with transport and ammunition for the school’s new scheme of training.