◆ SpookStack

+ The New York State Commission enid: ‘The kind of obedience that is fostered in military | Uaining is not the hind that fasts. It is a temporary subjection of the will, which often leads to greater dix | abedience when mititary pressure ie removed, The New Jersey State Commission on Military Train- ing in Iligh Schools reported: Jt is a psychological fallacy to suppose that obedience to military authority, indeed, obedience exacted under any Perulinr circumstauces, way sutomaticoy be translated Into the general habit of obedience, ‘The sane*may be eaid of auch qualities av alertness, industry, truthfulness, etc, Ht is by no means capable of demonstration that those who have bad military training, er have been aub- + ject 10 military discipline, are superior to otber citizens in the possession of these qualities. POST-WAR CONSCRIPTION? profe: bodies said in part: In our judgment it is unwise to commit the nation ‘at this time to a year of universal military service for the folluwing reasons... No basic change is necessary to provide required military personnel, nat only for the beriod of the war, hut also for the period immediately fo)- Jowing the defeat of aur encinies ... A question which most be appraised in tone-rance terms, In these terme it is cleatly impossible to debate fairty and inte!liently the question ef whether compulsary ribitury rervice if a nes tional military necessity... us the post-war national eituation is clarifier, it seems fo td extremely unsise and even dancerous to com mit the nation to auch a revolutionary chenge in funda. fal 6 WHAT ARE PROMINENT EDUCATIONAL BODIES SAYING NOW ABOUT ADOPTING “Dees America Want Conscription as a Peacetime Policy?” asks the Journal of the National Education Association. Then it quotes, “one of the most important Pronouncements ever made by leaders of the teaching on,” the statement adopted Maich 33, 1944, by the Educational Policies Commission of the National Edu- cation Association and the American Association of School Administrators and the Problems and Plans Com- mittee of the American Council on Education. There om ) menta) national policy . . . Our American tradition is set against @ larg Men the desirability and soundness of compulsory mil aorvice . 6. The American poople are fighting this war with the high hope that it will eventuste in an enduring peace. We all look for measutea of international coop which will reduce the necessity for lame scale po military establishment, Hf, against the background of these great expectations, a year of compulvory mit training is arged, many Americans will interpret action as a signal for tho return of the cynicism of the 2920's or as an ad ion that we shall all continue to live in an armed camp and that the hopes of a more Peaceful world are not to be realized, war 7. ISN’T A SYSTEM OF CONSCRIPTIO REALLY DEMOCRATIC? There are two major aspects of democracy—equal and liberty. There is often a fraternal benefit from 1 associations in the ranks of the military, But docs a one scriously contend that the armed services have gis equal opportunily, rank, or recognition to, for examy the Negro? Conscription particularly violates the second eter: of democracy—liberty. Many of our most stalwart ¢ zens are descended from men and women who came America to escape the sysicms off conscription in th countrics. Conscription tends to limit ac ic freede the right of the press to criticize government policies 4 political and military leaders, and tenis to discours peaceful means of international conperation. There is a great deal to be said in favor of a sx of obligation to serve the community. [t is not cle however, that that sense of obligation can be develoy best by compulsion, There is a great difference hetw servire rendered to the community from a sense of du and service rendered to the nation under compulst The assumption has been that one makes his best © tribution to the national Jife of America hy doing s+ v as he can the work which he has selected Cov trismself 19) 3