Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1888 — How to Get Into the Naval Academy. [ARTICLE]

How to Get Into the Naval Academy.

Harper's Monthly, The of this national college are called officially “naval cadets on probation,” the traditional title of midshipman having been changed first to cadet midshipman, and subsequently—so the engineer pupils might be included —to that now employed. Their number is limited by law to one cadet for every member or delegate of the House of Representatives, and to eleven others —ten at large and one from the District of Columbia—appointed by the Presid nt. As the age of admission falls between the limits of fourteen and eighteen, and the course extends six years, it follows, unfortunately, that in certain districts appointments may not he open more than once in that period, thus making one-third of its boys unavailable by reason of age. The remedy proposed for this is only one of sissy good reasons why the course should be reduced from six to four years.

To pass successfully the candidate must be physically sound and of robust constitution, have a sufficiently thorough knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geography, English grammar, United States history, reading, writing, and spelling and when appointed, be ready to take an oath to serve eight years, including the probationary period. When a vacancy is likely to occur in any district, the Secretary of the Navy must notify its Congressional Representative as soon as possible after the sth of . March in each year, and if by the Ist of the following July no action has been taken, the privilege lapses, and the Secretary is empowered to make the nomination. As this system .permits the choice of a candidate to be deferred until “the May examination is really over, or as in a majority of cases, until the academic year is about to open, it would seem to be infinitely better if a candidate and an alternate were named at least one year previous to the May examination. This would enable the applicant to pursue a .course .spedally fitted as a direct preparation for his professional studies, and if successful, to go at once upon a cruise, which would teach him definitely his immediate aptitude for a sea-life. On the other hand, should the principal fail, an alternate stood ready to face the same ordeal.

The low standard of admission is based upon the theory that the possibilities of the academy must be open so freely to boys of every condition as to make it —what it is undoubtedly—the most democratic government school in the world. Practically this very just theory impairs the efficiency of the academy, as it pins the qualifications at a point which rigorously prohibits the energies of the teachers and of the average scholars being directed to the branches of education connected with the naval profession. Entrance examinations are held In May and September.