MILITARY-SPIRIT IN HIGH SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1958, 15 January 1914, Page 6

MILITARY-SPIRIT IN HIGH SCHOOLS.

FROM DOUBT TO ENTHUSIASM. In a report by Major A. C. Temperley, General Staff Officer, Wellington District, on tho recent experiment at Wanganui Collegiate School, of placing tho school under direct military control, he states that when ho arrived to tako command of the school, he was informed that, on the whole, tho majority of the boys would rather have continued with their ordinary school work. . j . . "They apparently thought," ho said, ''that tho training would merely be an accentuated form of their weekly parades—namely, squad and company drill and physical training. Their view was a trifio depressing, perhaps, but not unnatural. They had never been in camp, and they bad never seen troops at work in tho field. But it pointed most emphatically to tho absence of a real military spirit, for whieh they were not, iu the least to blame, and it certainly did 1 not indicate a promising recruiting-ground for future oificors: Boys aro imprcssionablo and capable of great enthusiasm, but their_ imaginations aro tho vital spark which must first be kindled, and that is just what their ordinary parades had not done. It is sufficient to say that tho boys paßsed rapidly from doubt to conviction and then to enthusiasm. This enthusiasm was shown at every turn. It was interesting to leam from tho housemasters that many of tho greatest enthusiasts were those who had, before it started, viewed tho .experiment with disfavour. It is hoped that this experiment will have left u lasting impression upon tho boys, and will ultimately benefit the Territorial Force." Major Temperloy strongly urges the consideration of this experiment upon other schools, particularly upon those schools whieh endeavour not merely to develop the brains of their boys but to make them good citizens--as well.