SCHOOL CADET CAMPS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 459, 18 March 1909, Page 9

SCHOOL CADET CAMPS.

On thp subject of ea(let camps, "Ope Who Knows" writes to the Editor: "(a) Nothing is to be gained bv useless •'osnggeration,'cither for or against cadet camps; (b) drill in i). roomy camp, under stall' sergeant-major,'is infinitely better and moro varied than it possibly'can be in schpojgrounds, ' 'cribbed, cabined, and con? fined'"; (c) the_ rotitme of-camp duties js mojt ■valuable training iii'neatness, etc., and'generally the training in prompt obedience even to' subordinate officers, in co-operation "and mutual dependence helps school discipline; (d) admitted that, there is some dislocation of thp school work, its extent depends upon the organisation of this school, and I can honestly say that with cam'p from Monday morning ' tiM Saturday afternoon the dislocation can be reduced to a minimum, and'need not affect school lvcrk at all the week after camp, 'and only slightly the wcok before canip; (e) camp can be inado an incentive" tq work. The lazy 'indifferent. Ijoy is not allowed to gn. He must'stay behind and work with the girls! if) While ijo one can satisfactorily maintain that cadet camp's are a necessity it' can be shown' that they.are desirable—(l)As giving undoubted facilities for •more extended drill than is possible in a playground; (2) affording' leacher.s' an opportunity of comparing their' n\vn drill '.with that of ojhovs, and. therefore, nf raising tho genera) standard;_ (3) giving the boys an incentive tp improve in their drill. I am coiivinccd that where teachers are willing to work to make tho camp what it can be made, tli'e "advantages greatly putweight thp disadvantages." '