Cocks letter diary, 1916-1919 / Verner Cocks - Page 480
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[Page 480]
11.
Another of the chief divisions would come under the general heading of professional, and the third chief heading would be those of the studies that go to make good and intelligent citizenship, the scope of which has been previously indicated.
In addition to these activities it is intended that the organization should act as a kind of bureau or agency for guiding, informing and commending men to educational opportunites beyond those which it is able to provide within the A.I.F. Many men are thinking of special courses of study before their return and during their retention here. The Universities of the United Kingdom are showing a very receptive attitude to these desires. Various forms ofscholarships and bursaries are being suggested. It is also quite possible that an extensive and capable course of correspondence classes may be established. Again, as will be shown later, the British Army Council is launching a great scheme for the Armies of the United Kingdom, special courses of Study in which would be open to selected and commended members of our forces. The Educational Establishment of the A.I.F. would be able to assist very largely in making known, and available to our men, all such opportunities.
It will be apparent that the whole of this work leads directly on to the great schemes in preparation by the Ministry of Repatriation and would prove an invaluable preparatory stage in this work.
While the Army remains as a Military organization this preliminary work can only be carried on by and from within the Army in harmony with military needs, discipline and organization; but at the same time it is desirable that this Educational organization within the Army should maintain a close liaison with the Ministry of Repatriation so as to be able to hand over the fully or partly trained man, at the point when he ceases to be a soldier and becomes a civilian to the Ministry of Repatriation with a certified history of his training, an estimate of