Schoolmaster, Army

In the English army, the schoolmaster is a non-commi ioned officer of the first cla , ranking next to a sergeant-major. His pay varies with length of service. He has an advantage over other non-commi ioned officers in quarters and certain allowances. To become an army schoolmaster, it is nece ary either to be a certificated schoolmaster, or to have served the apprenticeship as a pupil-teacher, and to pa through a course of training for one year at the Royal Military Asylum, Chelsea. After the completion of the training, the candidate is required to enlist as a common soldier for ten years’ general service, whereupon he is immediately promoted to the rank of schoolmaster. A few of the most deserving schoolmasters are promoted to be superintending schoolmasters, when they rank as ensigns. The duties of the schoolmaster are to teach the soldiers and their children the rudiments of general knowledge, to examine the girls’ school, and to deliver lectures to the soldiers. There were in 1865 214 army schoolmasters in the British service.