People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1897 — Educating Soldiers. [ARTICLE]

Educating Soldiers.

It is a striking fact that the government makes elaborate, expensive, and perfect provision for the training and instruction of the few young men who are expected to serve it as soldiers, and yet the youth of the land receive practically no training in the higher duties of citizenship. The citizen is of vastly more importance than the soldier, and it is proportionately as important that those duties should be fully understood. It does not follow that this instruction should be either at government expense or under governmental direction or control, but it does seem that the citizen should be instructed in his duties and responsibilities to and rights under the government as that its soldiers should be familiar with theirs. The business of killing men seems to be the only one which has the especial care of the government in the instruction of youth. Is it not quite as important that our youth be instructed in the best ways to avoid a resort to such means or be taught the most practical and scientific means by which men may be fed, clothed, and sheltered, and their lives rendered happy and enjoyable?—Watchman.