Page images
PDF
EPUB

receive wooden dummy rifles and are trained in exercises with arms up to and including the battalion formation.

The supply of competent instructors is secured by means of the thorough military training given in normal schools. Later, while pursuing their vocation, teachers are given the benefit of frequent conferences with Army officers in order that they may keep their military instruction up to date.

The course of public elementary schools in Mexico covers four years. For continuation study there are higher primary schools with a two-year course. These include an advanced course of military training in which much attention is given to rifle practice. For target work the students use service rifles of Mauser pattern and full-charge ammunition.

This work is continued in high schools, where target practice and drill with arms are pursued on a more extended scale.

ARGENTINA.1

Military training is obligatory in the last two years of public secondary schools, including national colleges, superior schools of commerce, superior industrial schools, and normal schools for teachers. The course of the secondary and normal schools covers from five to six years, the entrance age being from 14 to 16 years. Hence the students do not begin their military training until they are at least 17 years old. Private schools of corresponding grades have similar programs of military instruction.

The military training required in the last two years of the secondary school course is very thorough. It consists of drill with and without arms and rifle shooting, and occupies five hours per week. The instructors employed in this work receive careful training in a special institution called Escuela normal de educacion fisica. They must be graduated teachers, besides being experts in physical education. The army instructors employed are also graduates of special training schools.

Special attention is paid to target practice, for which purpose the Government furnishes service rifles (Mauser carbine, Argentine model) and ammunition. Both indoor and outdoor ranges are used. Target shooting is often done in teams representing various schools, which tends to stimulate the zeal of the students in this work. Those who have established a perfect record in marksmanship receive special credit in the form of one year's exemption from active service.

1 Statement by Mr. Rómulo S. Naón, ambassador of Argentina to the United States, late minister of public instruction of Argentina.

BOLIVIA.1

Military training in the strict sense of the term is not a feature of the schools of Bolivia, but some exercises in simple military movements are included in the physical training which is given, as a rule, in elementary and secondary schools.

The Boy Scout movement has developed recently to a great extent, the organization following the same lines as in England or the United States. Special importance is attached to long excursions. in which the boys march in troops to distant points for the purpose of rendezvous with other units or simply for the mental and physical benefit derived from such excursions. The physical strength thus developed is indicated by the fact that the distance covered in a single excursion often exceeds 70 or 80 miles.

1 Statement by Señor Don Ignacio Calderon, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of Bolivia to the United States.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Annuaire de l'instruction publique en Suisse. Lausanne, Switzerland, François Gueux, 1910-1914.

Australia.

Commonwealth. Bureau of Census and Statistics. Official yearbook, 1901-1914. No. 8, 1915. Issued under the authority of the Minister of State for Home Affairs, by G. H. Knibbs, Commonwealth Statistician. Melbourne, McCarron, Bird & Co., printers, xl,1127 p. 8°.

Buisson, F. Nouveau dictionnaire de pédagogie et d'instruction primaire. Paris, Librairie Hachette & Cie., 1911.

Article "Militaire (exercice)."

Echols, Charles Patton. Report upon foreign schools. West Point, N. Y., U. S. Military Academy Press, 1907. (Bulletin No. 1.)

Faesch, Remy. The Swiss army system. New York, 1916. 24 p. 8°.

Foglietta Giovanni. Conferenza. Cuneo, 1912.

Hamilton, Sir Ian S. M. National life and national training. London, 1913. Japan. Department of Education. Education in Japan. Tokyo, 1904.

Jourdy, Emile. Le patriotisme à l'école. Paris (19-).

Kikuchi, Baron Dairoku. Japanese education. London, 1909. xvi, 397 p. 8°.
Körperliche Erziehung. Zeitschrift für reales Leben. (Vienna, Austria.)
Years, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915.

Leo, Heinrich. Jungdeutschland. Berlin-Wilmersdorf, 1912.
New York. Public Library. Books about military education.
Public Library, 1916. 4 p. 8°.

New York,

Pieters, Albertus. Educational system of Japan. Nagasaki, 1906. Ransom, William Lynn. Military training. New York, Columbia University, 1916.

Ray, Julien. L'instruction et l'éducation après l'école et plus specialement à la caserne. Lyon, 1909.

Reid, William A. Bolivia: The heart of a continent. Washington, D. C., 1916. Richards, M. A. Military training in schools. School World (London), 18: 162-5, May, 1916.

Saint Cyr. École spéciale militaire. Le centenaire de Saint-Cyr. Paris, 1908. Sociedad Sportiva Argentina. Batallones escolares. Por el Dr. José Moreno. Buenos Aires, 1914.

United States. Adjutant General's Office. The military schools of Europe. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1896, 151 p.

Vuibert, H. Annuaire de la Jeunesse. Paris, Librairie Vuibert, 1914. 1-15, 33, 35-38, 45, 47-50, 1113-1136.

Wood, A. B. The military training of youth in schools. School World (London), 17:366–70, October, 1915; and 17: 416-18, November, 1915. Zúñiga, Montúfar G. El ejercito de Chile. Santiago, 1904.

32

APPENDIX I.

PROGRAM OF PREPARATORY MILITARY TRAINING IN BAVARIA.

1. Quick, silent movements in line and column, either at halt or at marching in a given direction.

Division of the school into platoons and squads, carried out as in company drill.

2. The formation of a skirmish line and quick, silent assembling. When assembling the men are required to take proper alignment and intervals without command.

3. Simple marchings in column with change of direction on command and signals.

4. Exercises in marching in accordance with hygienic instructions. Regulation of step length and cadence. Long, easy step must be insisted upon.

5. Terrain exercises and singing national songs may take place during the march.

5a. Simple exercises in security services on the march.

6. Formation of a skirmish line and its movement in conformity with a given terrain; these exercises should be occasionally interrupted by assembling in order to secure quick response to command.

7. Every movement of juvenile units should be smart and cheerful without, however, affecting the accuracy of the drill. Immediate and accurate execution of all commands, orders, and signals of the commanding officer is an absolute requirement.

8. Elements of knowledge of terrain, its importance and utilization in combat, connected with data relative to modern fire efficacy.

9. Description of terrain, with short, exact specifications of small objects, preliminary to the practice in examination and description of the target.

10. Visual exercises of various kinds.

11. Distance estimating.

12. Prompt naming and discerning of similar objects.

13. Mnemonic exercises with the view of preparing the pupils for reporting orally their observations.

14. Hearing exercises.

15. Making correct conclusions from observation of terrain.

16. Accurate and true reporting upon observations made; also reporting service generally.

17. Correct repetition of short orders.

18. Exact orienting of others in a terrain.

19. The use of the watch, compass, distance measuring apparatus, and the knowledge of Morse code.

20. The use of maps.

More attention must be given, however, to the de

velopment of sight and hearing.

21. Flag signaling.

22. Field gymnastics.

« PreviousContinue »