The Dominion TUESDAY, FEBRUABY 18, 1919. THE CITIZENS OF TO-MORROW

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 123, 18 February 1919, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, FEBRUABY 18, 1919. THE CITIZENS OF TO-MORROW

In undertaking to boldly recast the system of cadet training in the Dominion Colonel Sleeman of necessity invited a certain amount of criticism, As yet, however, criticism seems to have had less the effect of exposing weaknesses in the new scheme. of cadet instruction which was outlined last,week by the Director of Military Training than of. bringing out its essential merits.A case in point was a letter from a- correspondent, "S. Miles," to which space was given in our open columns a day or two- ago. The chief aim of- this correspondent apparently was to find fault with Colonel Sleejian and his proposals relating to the training of cadets, and yet he made an admission which completely undermined his own contentions. "That the 'new is sound," he wrote, "that the principles involved are good, cannot be gainsaid. 'Will it be carried out, and how?" The whole point of interest meantime is, of course, whether the amended scheme of training for cadets is sound or not. If it is adjudged to be sound then obviously it is the duty_ not only of the Director of Military Training and his subordinate officers' but of all public-spirited citizens to see that it is carried into effect, and.that whatever means are necessary to that end are provided: It already seems certain that the new'scheme and its principal author will emerge with credit from anything in the, nature of expertdiscussion that may take place, but this does not cover all the ground. In order that the object aimed at may be attained the sympathetic approval of the public, particularly that of parents', is just as necessary as the endorsement of experts. Since this object is simply to promote the physical, mental, and moral development of the youth of the Dominion on healthy lines, it is evident that public sympathy and support extended to the new system of cadet training will not be misplaced. Obviously no scheme, of this character can be devised which will satisfy cranks and extremists. But it should be quite possible to get into effective touch not only with the youth of the Dominion in the fruitful and critical years between boyhood arid manhood, but with parents and guardians of the normal level-headed type. That such a course of training as Colonel Sleeman has outlined will appeal to the average youth of sound instincts should go without saying. Boys and youths nearly always find formal restrictions irksome, but they take delight in team 'work of all kinds and in the healthy rivalry and competition of individuals and groups, and are seldom Indeed found wanting in a'generous spiritof comradeship, except where their natural instincts have been hopelessly perverted. The new syllabus of cadet training seems to be admirably designed to give the freest scope to the best tendencies of youth and to appeal to its best in-, stincts. ' . The change tp < be made may be summed up as the subordination of military training to a much broader course of instruction, in which physical and mental development,- , are aimed at for their own sake. At bottom the organisation, of the Senior Cadets remains military, and their training on the lines' now to bo adopted will no doubt serve excellently as an introduction to whatever measure of definitely- military training of the manhood of the Dominion is deemed necessary. That this purpose will be served is in itself a reason for maintaining the organisation of the Senior Cadets. It is manifest that we have not yet reached a stage at which everything in the nature of defence preparation can be discarded as no longer necessary. But if the training of the Senior Cadets .will serve reasonably!well as an introduction to military training it '■ is capable also of serving the- much broader purpose, as Colonel SleeJian has said, of producing self-con-fident, strong-willed, disciplined, punctual, and self-respecting men. ilven if all need for military preparation had disappeared it would be well worth while to maintain the Senior Cadet organisation for the sake of the facilities it offers of promoting health of body and mind in the youth of the Dominion. The enlarged programme of physical instruction in itself holds most important possibilities. Depressing evidence is supplied : in the statistics of rejections from the Expeditionary Force that the physical standards of the manhood of'the country are far short of what they ought tobe, and the amplified physical training and instruction now to be given to the cadets constitute, in their scope, one of the most hopeful remedial measures in sight. It is important, also, that medical examination of the cadets will show, as time goes on, how far general improvement is being effected in the health standards of the community. As regards instruction in citizenship, patriotism, and. related subjects there are, of course, limits to be set. Politics can never be allowed to intrude into the Senior Cadet organisation. But in matters of this kind there is a wide field' to be covered, in which no contention need arise. Except by those who work in the dark and are unable to face the light o'f day there is only one view to be taken of such great and permanent realities as love of country, social responsibility, and the broad duties of good citizenship. The cadet trained on such lines as Colonel Sleeman has laid down will bo mucfi less apt to imbibe prejudices than if he were left to his own devices, but will have excellent prospects of entering manhood physically and mentally . _ efficient and solidly grounded in moral and social principles. The new scheme is best regarded as part and parcel of the sweeping reform in education which is recognised by all thoughtful people to be a> vital need of the age. Parents should recognise that one of the best means offering of ensuring the future welfare of their ,sons is to pivc the scheme their active sympathy and support. They can dc their part by encouraring their son; to make the most of the advantage! i-hc_ cadet training affords, by stimulating a healthy spirit of i-ivalrj between unit and unit, and ir other ways. A tithe of the interesi that is now readily enlisted on be

half of a popular football team, or even of a racehorse, will ensure the prosperous development of the cadet organisation, with results oT untold benefit to the rising generation and to the Dominion.