15 



MILITARY SCIENCE. 



It appears that the clause of the congressional bill requiring the national colleges to 

 teach military science and tactics has given, in most of tin- Siat<-s. a great deal nt trou- 

 ble. Occasionally tin- requirement is regarded with favor by tin- faculty, hut .-> far as 

 my ol.sci vation has gone, in nio.>f of tin- States tin- repeal Ox the clause would be wel- 

 comed. Without special help from the State or from Congress, tho thorough training 

 of a military school cannot he seemed, and it is questionable whether the little that is 

 done for tin- recognition of military science in most of the national schools is of any 

 real ad\antage. It would seem to me very desirable to leave the college in each Stato 

 fiv:- tn determine whether or not to maintain military tactics as a branch of instruc- 

 tion. Among the announcements on this subject. 1 select and condense the following: 



Mtixnachiisctts. The agricultural college has provided amply for instruction in mili- 

 tar\ teieace. A eonvenieut armory anil a spacious hall have been erected, the State 

 has furnished arms and equipments, and the I'nited States supports at the college an 

 oftieer who has entire charge of this department. The military drill in the hall is, to 

 .: extent, substituted for manual labor in the lield during stormy weather and the 

 winter season. 



Jiilatcarc. According to act of Congress, all students connected \vith the college 

 must be connected with the classes in military tactics and engineering, but the faculty 

 may. for sufficient reasons, exempt any student from tin- drill. 



< itlifornia. Measures have been taken to carry out the provisions of the act creating 

 the university, in respect to military in>tiu< tion and discipline. 1'mfessor \V -leker and 

 Assistant Professor Soul6, graduates of the West Point Academy, have organ i/ed tho 

 battalion of the univeif ty cadets. All able-bodied male students of the university are 

 required to attend the military exercises. 



Illinois. All students, unless excused for sufficient cause, are required to take part 



in military exercise. There is taught a class in military science and art, as far as it is 



--ary for duties as officers of the line. Students maybe admitted into this class 



after having participated at least two terms in the general military exercises. Tho 



instruction, theoretical and practical, does not occupy more than five hours each week. 



Kansas. The practical portion of the military instruction is obligatory upon each 

 student, and embraces the manual of arms, including the loadings and firings, target- 

 practice, and a knowledge of the school of the soldier and the skirmish drill. 



The theoretical portion of the course is elective, and embraces the general history of 

 the art of war, and the elements both as an art and science. The course of study 

 extends over a period of two years. A drill in some one of the arms of service, at 

 least twice a week, is required. 



Kentucky. In accordance with the congressional act, regular instruction is given to 

 the students of the Agricultural College in the infantry drill and military discipline 

 and police, in accordance with the regulations prescribed for the United States Army. 



lotca. All male students of the college, except such as may be excused, are expected 

 to attend all military exercises in their respective classes. The company organization 

 conforms strictly with tho United States Regulations, and the company officers and 

 non-commissioned officers are severally instructed in the duties which devolve upon 

 their respective ranks. 



CONCLUSION. 



In closing these statements respecting the national schools of science, it seems im- 

 portant to add, that many of the colleges of tho country which do not receive tho 

 national grant are introducing scientific departments and courses of study ; so that 

 we shall doubtless soon have as manifold reduplications of the scientific schools as we 

 already have of classical colleges. Many, if not most, of these enterprises will for 

 s be weak, partly for want of funds, partly for want of teachers, partly for want 

 of defiuiteness of aim, and partly from undertaking to accomplish too much. This 

 state of things, though undesirable, is in a great degree inevitable. The wide diffu- 

 sion of enterprise, the popular regard for education, the youthful enthusiasm and resolu- 

 tion of every part of the conn try, the American readiness to seize and carry forward new- 

 ideas regardless of experience and precedent, all contribute to this new development of 

 educational plans. In the end we must expect to see failure as well as success ; strong 

 prejudice awakened against the schools of science, and equally strong confidence in 

 their enduring importance; but the net result is sure to be of the greatest service to 

 the country and mankind. 



Fortunately for the culture of tho nation, the love of scientific research has grown 

 up. and the need of technical instruction has been advocated from no spirit of has- 

 tility toward literary and classical training. The traditional colleges of the country 

 are stronger to-day than they have ever been before. Their courses of study anil 

 met hods of discipline have been criticised by their advocates far more than by their 

 opponents. Modern science has only asked for a free course willing and eager that 

 c\ery 1. ranch of human knowledge useful to mankind should have tho same liberty. 



