TO MAKE GOOD CITIZENS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 118, 12 February 1919, Page 8

TO MAKE GOOD CITIZENS

NEW SYSTEM OF CADET TRAINING EXPLAINED BY LIEUT.-COL SLEEMAN AN APPEAL TO PARENTS In the course of a lecture to the officers of Wellington last evening, LieutenfintColonel J. L. Sleeman, 1.G.5., Director of Military Training, explained the system of cadet training which will be shortly adopted. Experience of the past system and the enormous percentage of rejections for medical unfitness from the Expeditionary Forces had disclosed proof of tho necessity for cadet training to aim not so much at the military training of the individual, as at the physical, mental, and moral training of youths between the very impressionable ages of 14 and 18 years, said tho speaker. Military traming' would be included in the new system because fully 75 per cent, of such training aimed at producing ai self-confident, strong-willed, disciplined, punctual, and self-respecting man. Military training would not, however, receive as much attention as the physical training of tho cadet and his. whole outlook on life Hie aim would be to produce healthy and conscientious citizens. That was what the Empire and the Dominion required today—cood. strong, healthy-minded youths, filledVith the fine spirit of true democracy and intolerant of all mean and dirty actions. The proposal to give four months of concentrated training to tho Territorial at eighteen would supply, the re=t of the military training required. It" was therefore thfc duty of those in charge of endet training to give these youths every possible opportunity to strengthen their bodies and ■ characters and to commence the foundation of good citizenship, so essential to the future prosperity, peace, and security of New Zealand. There was nothing over-san-guine in these aspirations; tho Dominion Possessed a. large percentage of cleanminded and healthy boys and a number of public-spirited and zealous officers in its Cadet Force. Citizenship the Aim, Citizenship, not militarism was the real aim of the Cadet Force, greatest opponent of military service would agree that strength of character, a healthy mind and body, attention to personal appearance, punctuality, respect for authority, cheerful obedience, and high ideals were assets possessed by all truly successful men. The opportunities to acquire these qualities, and habits should be given to all, ncTi or now, strong or weak. That is what the Cadet Force training was going to attempt to provide, whether successfully or not largely depended upon the assistance and encouragement given to tho cadets and cadet units by the civil population. I cadets were encouraged to remain absent from parades, if the efforts of those in charge of cadet units, whose work was voluntary and unpaid, were stultihed oi weakened by ridicule or unfair criticism, then 'little could be expected or accomplished. This he felt sure would not bo the case. The. average New, Zealanler was just and fair, and appreciated value when he saw it. Parents and employers who studied the question would realise the possibilities of the new scheme, and would surely encourage and tako an interest in the cadet work. Tho interest and encouragement given in this manner would prove of infinite yalne. , In the past tho almost total lack of interest shown by parents, employers, and the "cneral public over the cadet workwas the principal reason for its slow progress. Now that 75 per cent, of this training aimed at citizenship, surely this apathy would give place-to an intelligent'interest and appreciation? AY hen the dav arrived that the citizens of one town encouraged their cadets to compete against those in another in physical drill, musketry, or drill competitions, etc the Cadet Force would torgo ahead at an astounding rate, and unconsciously develop in the youth valuable qualities which would stand him In good stead all his life. Therefore he (Colonel Sleeman) depended entirely on the. support given to tho new cadet scheme by those in chargo of units and by the parents and employers. Without their assistance the scheme must fail, for tho cadet officers could compel their cadets to parade for" only one and a half hours a week, and those who had drifted into slack, untidy, and unpunctual ways objected to changing them.. If the cadet units offered interesting and health-giving instruction, and parents and employers encouraged their lads to attend, other voluntary parades could be arranged durin><- tile week. The now scheme was the result of many months of most careful investigation and trial, and was approved by-those best fitted to form a judgment oil its merits.

Training to be Made Interesting, It was not pretended that the scheme was perfect; to enable it to become so three times the time would have to become available for cadet instruction. It was for example, obvious that thirtyfive'minutes' physicadl training every eiijht days (or under, seventy hours' total training'a year) was utterly insufficient, vet this was'all the cadet could be compelied to perform. To overcome this difficulty the endeavour was to make this training so interesting, that, given enthusiastic, public-spirited, and patient instructors, of the type to enthuso the cadet, the majority of the youths would willingly attend' voluntary classes in addition—so much depended on the-, instructor-pos-sibly the greatest responsibility a man could assume. , . Thoso in charge of- cadet training would surely undertake to encourage and attend these extra classes. An officer's work was never done' Every officer honoured by His Majesty's commission was extremely fortunate to be privileged to carry out such noble work as the hik'her education of a people at a period when thousands of officers had gladly, jrivon their lives for the Empire. Thoso fortunate enough to be alive could be expected to be equally ready to devote their spare hours to eucli a noble cause. If he laboured this point it was because it must be made unmistakably clear that the new scheme depended entirely on. the support of public bodies, citizens, parents, and instructors.

A Sound Syllabus. The'syllabus , was comparatively (simple to prepare, but its proper application was vital to its success. it'Vas a sound syllabus, because it was based- upon the experience and advice of over a (hundred Senior Staff .and Territorial officers, men who had experienced, the difficulties firsthand, and who had the interests of the Dominion's welfare at heart. Its compilation had, for that reason, taken many weary mouths, but it had been a labour of love, for uo one could inspect and instruct many thousands of New Zealand youths every year without gainins an. intense respect and admiration of"their many fine qualities. Briefly, the changes niiulc by the new syllabus were that instead of eleven hours of physical training ner year, twenty-three hours would be given to this subject. Instead of eleven hours for musketry instruction, over fifteen hours would be given. Infantry drill was docreased from thirty-eight hours to less than half that amount, In addition, a lecturotte was laid diwn for every parade, to bo delivered by the senior officer present. The subjects would include :— "Citizenship. "Advantages of Physical Fitness,. "Personal Hygiene." "Tolly of Swearing and Smoking." "Sanitation." "First Aid." "Playing (lie Game." "Patriotism." > ~ "Care of the Teeth." "Self-discipline" "Kvils of Selfishness'." "CU'anii'.is of fispiwion." "Comvsifleshin and Co-operation." "IVlil Owii'K to One's Country." "Piiy-nral i'iluess and Individual kllieic.iey." "Valuo (if Punctuality and Smartness." "Power of Concentration and Observation." . "Bequ'ircments for Health." i "Discipline as a Civil Asset."-.

"Healthy Hinds and Bodies." "Unit Inter-competitions." "Tho Unit as a lleereational Organisation," etc. In addition, tests were laid down for the instructor to mako half-yearly in eyesight, hearing, care ol the teeth, power of memory, and concentration, colour tests, etc. Where these tests disclosed disabilities, cadets would be privately ad-

vised to consult a mwlical officer, with the probable result that action in time would preserve a boy's eyesight, hearing, or teeth, or show one who Was colour blind the dangers of entering a profession, such as the Railway Department, where colour blindness spells disaster. In order that these lecturettes might be systematised, and to assist those who were not good lecturers, notes would be provided dealing, with each lecturette, and a book of the lectures in full would be issued shortly after the introduction of the new syllabils. Chief amongst the innovations would be the excellent system of "games, including the physical training, drawn up by Captain Brocks, M.C., Chief Physical Training Instructor at Trentham. Few youths possessing a sense of manliness and spirit could avoid enjoying these excellent exercises, which, while developing the body and quickening the mind, ninred at making the participant enter whole-heartedly into them with an enjoyable relish.' The musketry portion of the syllabus has been drawn up by Major"Wallingfprd, M.C., unquestionably the most experienced and practical musketry expert in the world. In conclusion, Colonel Sleeman expressed the sincere hope that the new scheme would prove successful, and that the Press would recoguise its enormous aims for the future aiid give it the support which was so necessary. The endeavour was to improve the youth of the Dominion, both physically and in regard, to his knowledge of the duties of citizenship. The greatest care must therefore be taken to teach by personal example and by showing that the best men were those who retained most of the high ■ideals of their boyhood. Every, endea.vour would, therefore, be made to eliminate the feeling that the leading of a clean life was unmanly. Although there was much in the syllabus that aimed at a higher moral.standard, the instructor most clearly and early show that this was far remote from being nnnosed to the leading of a manly life. "Workers" were what the Empire needed to-day, and no worker could be efficient, trustworthy or otherwise suitable unless he possessed the qualities which the Cadet Force would endeavour to teach or strengthen. Neither must it be imagined that this endeavour to strengthen the ideals anil bodies of the future generation ehowed that either the' physique or morals of the youth of New Zealand was below that of any other , country. On the contrary, it was questionable ■ whether the youth of the Dominion did not lead in both respects. At (he same time, in a progressive and prosperous, but underpopulated, .country it was essential that every youth fihouhl be properly instrnctfd in his duties as a citizen. New Zealand had set the example to the Empire in other resnects. and there was no reason why she should not do so in this respect !\lso. Her Cadet Force was already better than any other' within the Empire, but wns going to be better still.