EDUCATION IN THE FORCES
SIR,—I should like to draw the attention of your readers to the question of education in the Forces. Doubtless many will have seen frequent references to this matter in the daily Press, but as far as the Army is concerned we regret that very little has been done. To take the concrete case of my own Unit. We have no electric light; we are six miles from the town; and to make matters worse we are confined to barracks with the single exception of one half day a week, when we are allowed to go to town. We have no room other than our barrack room, although we have long been promised a canteen. It is scarcely to be wondered at that many men find com- fort only in the local public house. The majority of men do not complain, but I do feel that we need something more than dance music and an occasional talk on the wireless.
There is a magnificent opportunity for some real educational work. I do not know what has happened to the Army Education Corps— whether it has been reformed or extended—but I would urge that speedy measures ought to be taken to see that something is done. Much could be said about utilising this present conflict, which brings large numbers of men together in all kinds of places, for genuine educational effort, but the essence of the case is that many men of our Forces would greatly profit from some educational scheme which could be successfully carried out by the Army Education Corps within the Army itself.—Yours faithfully,
FIAT Lux.
Previous page
