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Show FORT DOUGLAS SCHOOLS. The Report to General Howard Nearly 300 Scholars Among - the Soldiers. The Omaha Herald of the 19th inst. says: General-Howard has just received the bi-monthly report of the schools at Fort Douglas, which are conducted under the direction of the military authorities at that place. An extract of the report, which has been signed bv Post Chaplain Jackson and Colonel A. D. McCook, has been, printed. It makes the following showing : Enlisted men in garrison .4S2 Children under 5 years of age at post! ! . 32 SCHOOXj attendance. Enlisted men 250 Children of officers...... !!!!!.!!!!!.!!! n Children of enlisted men '. n Children of civilians . 1 LIBBABY. Vols, at end of last two months. .375 Vote, purchased in these two months 96 Vols, circulated in these two months.... 450 - - ' BEADING BOOM. Papers and magazines received in these 2 months .'. . . 49 Av'ge attendance during these 2 months. .400 In the general remarks about ' the schools some valuable suggestions are offered. While uniformity of text books is admitted as desirable, as children are liable to be transferred from one school to another, yet the officers in charge believe be-lieve that the choice of books ought to be left largely to the judgment of the officer in immediate charge of the schools, and that such officer, to be successful in any degree, must, in the exercise of his judgment, judg-ment, adopt such methods .to awaken, develop, and strengthen the intellectual curiosity of the enlisted man, as shall induce in-duce him, of his own . volition, to avail himself of such opportunilies as are open to him. The report states further : "The teachers detailed for school purposes pur-poses and the officer in immediate charge, ought (I suggest) to be furnished with books and magazines relating to their profession, as are the surgeons at a post with books and magazines, to enable them to keep up with the outside world in professional knowledge.- "Possibly the officer in charge of schools, with his teachers, if such appliances appli-ances were given to them, might aid the surgeon in preventing ordinary sickness, that is so frequently the result of an idle, instead of a profitable recreation. ; "Further It seems to me, that if men are enlisted, who cannot read or write, or do so imperfectly, and are without a moderate knowledge of the fundamental rules of arithmetic, that such enlisted men ought to be compelled to attend school, while the others more advanced, such attendance should be left optional. To secure this end, every recruit, on. arriving ar-riving at his station, or on being enlisted, might be sent for examination to the 'officer in immediate charge of the schools.' "At a post where a chaplain is stationed, station-ed, he ought, I think, always be in charge of the schools, and I therefore suggest that no one should be appointed as . a chaplain without previous examination, or evidence, as shall show that he is . 'apt to teach,' not only , moral and spiritual truths on Sundays, but the rudiments of a good English education and to direct such of the enlisted'men as desire it, In the work of self -improvement." |