A report on the feasibility and advisability of some policy to inaugurate a system of rifle practice throughout the public schools of the countryWingate, George Wood
History
A report on the feasibility and advisability of some policy to inaugurate a system of rifle practice throughout the public schools of the country
Wingate, George Wood
Rifle practice; Shooting -- Study and teaching
The High School of Commerce and the De Witt Clinton High School
(Manhattan), Morris High School (Bronx), Boys' High School (Brooklyn),
Curtis High School (Staten Island), and the Bryant High School
(Queens).
Col. Leslie C. Bruce presented one to the Stuyvesant High School
(Manhattan), Mr. Warren Cruikshank gave one to Erasmus Hall High School
(Flatbush), Col. Robert B. Woodward gave one to the Manual Training
High School (Brooklyn) in memory of his brother, the late Maj. Gen.
John B. Woodward, and Hon. Bird S. Coler and Mr. Horace J. Morse united
in giving one to the Commercial High School (Brooklyn). Another,
presented by Mr. J. A. Haskell, will shortly be installed in one of the
other high schools. The City College expects to have one during the
spring.
In pursuance of the policy adopted by the league in regard to its
athletic games, it caused a "marksmanship committee" to be appointed in
1905, consisting of the coaches of the different schools having gun
machines, to organize and control the shooting under regulations
adopted by the high schools games committee and approved by the central
games committee of the league.
This committee has been found of great value in carrying on the work
and creating interest in shooting in their different schools.
In 1905 Mr. Henry Payne Whitney presented to the league a beautiful
bronze bas-relief, being a reproduction of Darnley's "Battle of
Lexington," for annual competition by teams from the different schools
having these machines, the winning school to keep it for the year.
In 1905 four gun machines were in use, namely, by the De Witt Clinton
High School, High School of Commerce, Morris High School, and the Boys'
High School.
In June, 1905, a competition was held between these schools, each
school shooting in its own building under the inspection of the
"marksmanship committee."
The following were the scores for teams of 8, 10 shots standing,
highest possible score 400:
De Witt Clinton High School 377
High School of Commerce 363
Morris High School 345
Boys' High School 344
The winning team averaged 47-3/8 out of 50.
Two boys made perfect scores.
Each member of the winning team was given a bronze badge modeled from
the Whitney trophy.
The result of this match greatly stimulated interest in the shooting.
It also attracted public attention.
During the fall of 1905, and the spring of 1906, the league was able to
equip the remainder of the other six high schools with the machine.
In 1906 it employed Capt. G. W. Corwin, inspector of rifle practice in
the Seventy-first Regiment, New York National Guard, and one of the
best shots in the National Guard, as a general instructor, who served
until after the Creedmoor competition.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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