CADET TRAINING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17687, 26 July 1919, Page 13

CADET TRAINING

GOOD CITIZENSHIP AIMED AT. ! Tho new syllabus that has been issued' in regard to the training of Cadets has been well received by tho principals of tho largo schools in tho dominion, who have intimated their intention of giving it their utmost support. When interviewed on the subject, Lieu-tenant-colonel J. L. Sleeman, • Director of Military Training, said: "It must not bo thought that Cadet training is peculiar to Now Zealand or is oonfused with Territorial military training. Ciidet training lias been existence in Great Britain, America, Sweden, Switzerland, and South Africa for a number of years. The disclosures made by tho war of tho number of young men whoso services wero not accepted on account of tho remediable physical imperfections have made it apparent that tho cause and remedy for those imperfections demanded careful and weighty consideration. Had it not been for the war, possibly, the imperfections would not have, been discovered in tho way they havo' l>ee.n. It was probably an unpleasant surprise to tho citizens of Now Zealand to find that when tho test was applied, it was discovered,, and with somo alarm, that there >yas so_ large a percentage of rejections for military servico on account of physical disabilities. Proof that these' imperfeotions commenced in early youth was made evident through the Cadet instruction that was given at Trentham Camp. The boys took part in those instructional courses with the greatest enthusiasm, but it was made apparent from the examinations that were made that thero were a large percentage of youths who suffered from physical imperfections through bad teeth and imperfect vision, and this in boys from 14 to 18 years of age, who unquestionably represented tho best youth in the dominion. "That a large amount of good was accomplished by tho instructional Cadet training at Trentham is evidenbed by tho fact _ that numbers of letters have been received from parents of boys thanking tho instructional staff for bringing to light imperfections of the youths of which parents had no previous knowledge. The new Cadet training syllabus makes it in-cumbent-upon tho instructional staff to have overy Cadet—and there are. 32,000 undergoing instruction—examined twice each year for _ imperfections in eyesight, , teeth, and hearing. Upon an imperfection being discovered, tho parents of the boy will bo informed, arid a recommendation made that medical or dental opinions be obtained, as tho case may be. _ In addition, the Cadet is.instructed and directed regarding the important question of sanitation and hygiene, as well as other matters which tend to strengthen his body physically, mentally, and morally. ~ ■ ''What is aimed _ at, in tho physical, training of Cadets, is tho development of character, and in the new s " syllabus military training takes a subordinate position, and, in fact, is almost negligible. A comparison with the Cadet syllabuses of other oountries shows that the New Zealand system is far ahead in its qualifications that tend towards tho making of good citizenship."