EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. 41. August, 1919. No. 2. 



Within the past fe^v months there has been organized, developed, 

 and brought to successful completion one of the most remarkable 

 educational projects of years. This project was the establishment 

 and operation of a comprehensive educational system for the Ameri- 

 can Expeditionary Forces in Europe. Of great interest to every 

 American citizen, its achievements have been of special significance 

 to educators, and in particular, because of the large place assigned 

 to instruction in agriculture, to those associated with agricultural 

 education. 



The bulk of the actual instruction provided was given in the spring 

 of 1919, but efforts to formulate an educational program began much 

 earlier. Toward the close of 1917, or soon after American troops 

 began arri\ang in force in Europe, studies were commenced by Dr. 

 Anson Phelps Stokes, secretary of Yale University, working under 

 the auspices of the American University Union, to ascertain the 

 conditions and the need and desire for educational work on the part 

 of the soldiers and their commanding officers. Dr. Stokes reported 

 after several months' inquiries that there was a general desire for the 

 promotion of educational opportunities, embracing common school 

 studies, industrial and vocational work, agricultural education, and 

 general university training, and with particular emphasis upon in- 

 dustrial, vocational, and agricultural lines. 



In April, 1918, announcement was made of the sanction by Gen- 

 eral Pershing of a broad educational movement, sponsored by the 

 Y. M. C. A. but eventually to constitute a Department of Education 

 as a component part of the Army. The purpose of this project was 

 set forth as not only to increase the efficiency of the men while en- 

 gaged in war but at the same time to prepare them for vocational 

 usefulness after the war. 



Subsequently the Army Educational Commission of the Y. M. C. A. 

 was appointed to organize the new undertaking. This commission 

 consisted of Dr. John Erskine of Columbia University, chairman and 

 in charge of general collegiate instruction; Mr. F. E. Spaulding, 

 superintendent of schools in Cleveland, Ohio, in charge of general 



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