SCHOOL CADETS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23370, 9 December 1937, Page 7

SCHOOL CADETS

ABOLITION OF SPECIAL SECTIONS OTAGO OLD BOY'S PROTEST “ The writer sums the matter up excellently ” was the comment of the chairman (Mr J. C. H. Somerville) at a meeting of the Otago High Schools’ Board yesterday afternoon, when a letter was read from Mr D. W. M. Burn protesting against the Government’s intention to abolish the specialist sections of secondary school cadets. The letter contained much interesting information concerning military training in schools, and members of the board expressed full approval of the sentiments expressed by the writer. “It was with very great regret,” Mr Burns wrote, “ that I saw that the Government contemplated the abolition of the special sections of our secondard school cadets, and with sympathetic interest I followed every word of Mr Kidson’s admirable letter on the subject, a copy of which, I presume, was sent to the Minister of Defence 01 such other authority as was concerned. Noting that the matter is again under discussion by the board, I venture to add my testimony to that already given as to the value of the training offered. I endorse every single argument brought, forward by the rector of the Otago Boys’ High School. I was a pupil of that school from 1874 to 1879 inclusive. We had a company of cadets when I joined, and soon after a company of artillery cadets was formed; this latter company I joined, rising to the ranks of corporal and boylieutenant. Influence on Character “ Later, while at the University of Otago, I joined the B Battery of artillery volunteers, only dropping out when posted to Wellington College in the beginning of 1884. From then onwards, in high schools, district high schools, and primary schools (including the Caversham Industrial School) I served as lieutenant and as captain of cadets. I desire to state my welLconsidered opinion that drill, especially in special sections, gives something to character which neither games, in which I took full part, or gymnastics, in which I was considered something of a ‘ don/ can give. Even when the ordinary cadet system was swept away I taught my pupils in the country, both boys and girls, to shoot, using an air rifle, as I considered the discipline—the selfdiscipline— required for excellence m target practice a valuable aid to character formation. “It is in my opinion an entire mistake to suppose that taking part in military drill rouses a spirit of what is usually termed militarism,” he continues.' “ I have never seen the slightest sign of it in my pupils. What I have seen is growth in manliness, improvement in physique—and notably so in carriage—and the rousing of a sense of self-respect. The responsibility that comes of office is another valuable quality, easily recognised. The responsibility that comes of the esprit de corps roused in the rank and file is also valuable, though less often noted by observers. Need for Leaders “ lij an age when, for all the talk of peace, war is ever hanging over the world, like the fabled sword of Damocles suspended by hair, there is need for training for defence. The old volunteer motto was ‘ De? fence not Defiance ’ —its spirit the antithesis of the militaristic. Naturally there is need for leaders, .and surely it is from the ranks of our High School scholars that leaders will most naturally spring. High School age is the age of generous enthusiasms; it is in our teens that this or that vocation makes its most powerful appeal. From the ranks of the specialist sections of our secondary school cadets would naturally come the needed officers. In my own case, had I still been of fighting years when the Great War broke out, I (and my brother also, of training similar to my own! would naturally have offered service with the guns.

“So it would be with those trained in other specialities, signallers, engineers, and others. That is not in the least due to any sense of militarism, any desire toward war, but is the natural result of interest roused in this, that, or the other special field of action. It is all too true that this is a day of mass production, but, while mass production of things may bring the race nearer to the age of leisure, mass production of human beings is one of the deadliest errors it is possible for mankind to make. The greater number of specialisations in activity among our youth, the better. We have largely learned that in the matter of games and sports; it were well if we applied it also in the matter of military training, lest the proverbial round pegs find themselves where they should not by any means be, in square or oblong holes. In a word, this matter no less than others, should be recognised as part and parcel of what is now seen to be a right and proper thing, vocational training.”