[To THE EDITOR OF TER " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—In your article on the above subject in the Spectator of April 30th you rightly lay emphasis on the necessity of boys being taught the rudiments of military drill and training in our schools, and you regret that the military element present in the former " Model Course " has been eliminated from the new " Model Course " of physical training lately issued by the
Board of Education. It is true that certain military forma- tions have been omitted from the present Course, such as the diagonal march and the formation of fours, but this is a matter of very little moment. If the exercises in the new Course are properly carried out, and the instructions laid down thoroughly complied with (and under the able supervision of Colonel Malcolm Fox I think we may rest assured that this will be so), the boys will leave school, not only physically the better, but also well drilled and disciplined, which is, after all, the main object of military drill. That they will not have learnt certain military formations will matter little; their training will enable them to conform to such movements without any difficulty, if required. As Chairman of an Asso- ciation that first urged on the Duke of Devonshire in the course of an interview with his Grace in June, 1899, the necessity of some official course of physical training for use in our schools, I welcome the publication of this excellent " Model Course," and am convinced that by its general use our boys will benefit both in discipline and physique. There is, hoW- ever, one most important branch of military training which naturally is not dealt with in the " Model Course." I refer to rifle-shooting. The safety of our Empire depends largely on the bulk of our manhood being trained to the use of a rifle, and so prepared to take their place in the defence of their country, should the necessity for so doing arise, and there is no time so suitable for this training as boyhood. The National Rifle Association recognises this, and is prepared to pay half the expenses of erecting miniature ranges in connection with any school (elementary or secondary) or institution; this grant would enable miniature ranges to be put up at very little cost to such school or institution, and I would urge all those interested in the training of our lads to become good and useful citizens to take advantage of this offer and assist in the formation of miniature rifle clubs in the villages and towns of their locality. One of the chief blots in our present system of education is that, owing to the early age they leave the elementary schools, boys are freed from any restraining hand at the period of life when they are most receptive to good or evil influence, and I am convinced that anything that would form, as it were, a link between the elder boys at school and those who had left, and so enable the teachers to continue their super- vision over the latter, would be welcomed by all interested in the future of our lads; and it appears to me that boys' rifle clubs would supply this link, the elder boys remaining members of such clubs after leaving school. I am glad to say that the Head-Masters of a large number of secondary schools where it has been found impossible to start Cadet corps are taking advantage of the offer of the National Rifle Association and are starting miniature rifle ranges. Information as to the conditions of the grant can be obtained from the hon. secre- tary, Lads' Drill Association, 44 Harrington Gardens, S.W.— I am, Sir, &c., MEATH, Chairman L.D.A.
[Lord Meath's explanation of the new " Model Course" puts an end to our doubts. We are not defenders of formal drill, and if the movements are a foundation for military drill they are all that is necessary. It is needless to say that we heartily endorse all that Lord Meath says as to the teaching of rifle-shooting by means of miniature ranges in secondary schools.—ED. Spectator.]
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